COVID-19 Update

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Despite restrictions brought on by the Covid pandemic the Barka Canada team continues to serve its community. Our AA group has continued to meet, first online through Zoom meeting platform. As the warm weather continued the meetings were held in local parks or church parking lots as permitted. Our Thursday support group has continued to meet mainly through Zoom with a few in-person get togethers sprinkled in. We will continue to support those attending our meetings and others who need our help while ensuring everyone’s safety.

The Barka team wishes everyone a healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Tomasz Sadowski

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The year of 2020 has been one of many changes for the Barka network, including the passing of its founder – Tomasz Sadowski – on December 29, 2019, in Chudopczyce in Poland. For over 30 years, his courage, enthusiasm, and determination has been a blessing for everyone who knew him. Members of Barka Canada have many fond memories of him, which are impossible to put into words. The success of our projects is a tribute to Tom’s vision of promoting loving kindness and uplifting those who are most needy. Thank you for inspiring us!

Annual General Meeting 2019 and Strategic Plan Presentation

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On September 26, 2019 Barka Canada held its Annual General Meeting. In addition to regular business, the AGM included a presentation and discussion regarding our strategic plan. This included a discussion of our mission and vision going forward as well as our plans for creating a social enterprise. Such a business would provide goods and/or services to the community, an opportunity for economically disadvantaged people to work, and a steady source of funding for Barka Canada’s programs and general operation.

Barka Canada has recently become involved in the creation of a Safety Net, which is a system of seamless social service provision proposed by Shannon Leigh, our consultant and organizational advisor, and Conrad Pazdyk, a law student and one of our team members/volunteers. The system would entail supporting individuals struggling with addiction or other mental health issues through the entire process of recovery by providing smooth transitions between one service provider and another. This would be accomplished by having a single file for each client that would be shared between service providers to ensure they are providing what the client needs when they need it and not duplicating or providing unhelpful services.

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Join Us at Workshops on Communication and Mental Health

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Barka Canada has initiated a partnership with two practicum students from Rhodes Wellness College in Vancouver, BC, to present a series of four workshops related to communication and mental health. The first workshop, on Non-Violent Communication, took place on April 26, 2019 (see the workshop’s poster). The remaining three workshops will be held between July and October 2019:

All workshops are open to everybody and FREE to attend. You are welcome to join us!

The workshop that took place in April, on Non-Violent Communication, was very interesting. An effective communication strategy was described, explained, and demonstrated. This communication strategy is based on the person first recognizing his or her own needs, as well as those of the other person in the interaction. These needs are then both acknowledged and communicated with empathy and respect. The purpose is to minimize conflict and increase mutual understanding.

The workshop was also very well prepared. It included PowerPoint slides and demonstrations of non-violent communication skills. Participants were encouraged to take part in discussions throughout the whole 2 hour session.

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Letter from the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Vancouver

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We are happy to share with you a letter that we have received from the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Vancouver, after the Barka Foundation Trip to Poland in July this year. The letter is written to the participants and the organizers of the trip, in recognition of their efforts in social work and volunteering. As the Consul writes:

At times, as a volunteer you may question the extent of the impact that your time and efforts have had. […] Please always remember that what you are doing is making a huge difference, and providing a voice to the recipient of your support. […] Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge to help improve lives and build the capacity of those who have not had the same opportunity – but thank you also for knowing that the experiences you will live and the people you will encounter will teach you more that you could have imagined. Thank you for your patience, respect and perseverance, change is never easy. But most of all thank you for your kindness, care and love and for being the inspiration the world needs.

Here is the full letter from the Consul to the participants and organizers of the Barka Foundation Trip.