The Educational Picnic, which took place on September 28, is one of many events taking place across Poland as part of the 'Adult Learning Days 2019' social campaign. Throughout the month, from September 15 to October 15, 2019, over 200 in-person and online events will be held across Poland: workshops, open days, meetings, educational picnics, happenings and excursions, outdoor training, demonstrations, conferences and seminars, competitions, webinars, etc. – all to convince adult Poles that lifelong learning is worthwhile.

- Campaign initiators want to show the diverse possibilities for development – the multitude of forms, places, topics and methods that can be used to learn constantly. After all, there are so many interesting things to discover, information and skills useful in professional and social life – in a nearby library, at a university, on the Internet, in a training company or at a conference. We decided to take our message 'to the people,' hence the idea to organize a picnic in one of the most popular places in Łódź – the shopping, service and entertainment center Manufaktura - says Beata Obraniak from HRP, regional campaign coordinator for the Łódź Voivodeship.

From Stress Reduction to Coffee

Much was happening in the 'workshop' tent. The ITFF Foundation offered participants a journey into Hollywood stories to learn how to present any story in an interesting way. The British Centre language school presented the requirements of the Cambridge examination. The Jedność Foundation demonstrated ways to reduce negative stress – laughter yoga sparked enthusiastic reactions from workshop participants.

Throughout the day, all interested and brave participants could test themselves with a favorite maneuver of drivers and driving school students – the famous 'sleeve,' or driving around a curve. Fortunately, they could rely on tips and tricks from instructors at the Driver driving school.

First aid demonstrations were also very popular, conducted at the stand of the Akademia Humanistyczno-Ekonomiczna. On a training manikin, under the eye of an experienced medical rescuer, even children learned proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques.

All workshop participants were treated to delicious and aromatic coffee served straight from a bicycle by Bike Cafe.

For Work and for Pleasure

The exhibition stands were equally interesting. Training companies presented their offers, showing the most popular and interesting courses or training from their portfolios. Centrum Ruchu Olimpijka presented training aimed at future Personal Trainers, Medical Personal Trainers and Fitness Instructors. Training services – not only for the beauty industry – were promoted by Senses Clinic. Representatives of the Institute for Educational Research discussed the benefits of the Integrated Qualifications System. A broad educational offer was presented by Wyższa Szkoła Techniczna in Katowice, Akademia Humanistyczno-Ekonomiczna in Łódź, and Centrum Nauki i Biznesu ŻAK.

Short-distance transport equipment held no more secrets for picnic participants – thanks to the competent and cheerful staff operating a forklift from Centrum Szkoleń BHP Bartosz Korsak.

Culture enthusiasts were welcomed by representatives of the Fundacja Kamila Maćkowiaka, with whom they could discuss not only current performances and artistic plans, but also the foundation's latest original publication – 'Kulturalnik'.

Not all formal and informal education is free, so specialists from HRP and Łódzka Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego pointed out sources of funding.

- We talked, discussed and persuaded that it is worth learning, not only for the sake of current or future work, but also to satisfy curiosity about the world, develop oneself and function fully in an ever-changing society. Updated knowledge and skills are the foundations of professional success, but learning also opens horizons, builds confidence, allows you to meet new people and establish valuable relationships – sums up the Educational Picnic Beata Obraniak.