About Us The “Promyk Słońca” Foundation has been working continuously since 1990. It was founded to help children who are disabled or at risk of disability, drawing on the positive experiences of the Kinderzentrum in Munich. In 1994 the “Promyk Słońca” Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center was opened in Wrocław under the aegis of the Foundation. In 2004 the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation was granted the status of a public benefit organization.At the basis of our activity lies the conviction that early diagnosis followed by coordinated, comprehensive and multifaceted help, encompassing both the child and the child’s parents, helps to prevent disabilities or considerably reduce their consequences.
Mission We bring help to children who are disable or in danger of disability. We provide children with disabilities or in danger of developmental delays with well-organized, comprehensive medical and therapeutic as well as psychological and pedagogical help. The help is provided by our proactive, highly qualified staff who undergo continuous training and constantly improve their techniques.We are convinced that early detection and rehabilitation makes it possible to prevent disabilities or significantly reduce their consequences; We popularize awareness of proper development of children and youth in society; We provide our patients with a secure and friendly environment where they can develop in many ways and as fully as possible;We support parents throughout the child treatment and rehabilitation process;We train specialist to provide children with professional medical and therapeutic, as well as psychological and pedagogical help;
Vision Through our consistent and professional actions we want to reduce disabilities among children, or eliminate their consequences, thus giving the children an opportunity for the fullest possible development.
Foundation's Work The “Promyk Słońca” Foundation carries out a broad and comprehensive range of activities.
Medical Help The Foundation runs an NZOZ Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center in Wrocław, operating under a contract with the National Health Fund. Its patients are children with various health problems. The Center comprises following Clinics: ·Child Neurology,·Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders,·Pediatrics,·Child Nephrology,·Child Ophthalmology,·Treatment of Strabismus and Poor Vision in Children,·Preluxation and Orthopedics,·Gynecology for Girls, ·Child Rheumatology,·Speech Therapy for Children,·Child Psychology,·Child and Adolescent Mental Health, ·Dentistry and Orthodontics,as well as the following Offices: USG, EMG, EEG Biofeedback and the Childbirth Classes. The Center is visited by over 300 little patients every day.
Programs The Foundation runs numerous programs, among others: ·the Early Intervention Program, ·Posture is the Thing (informational campaign aimed at preventing posture problems and promoting healthy lifestyle), ·Education of children with special educational needs inregular and integrated schools, ·Partner III (comprehensive and continuous help addressed to disabled children and adolescents, which includes physical and social rehabilitation).
Psychological and Pedagogical Help The Non-public Specialist Psychological and Pedagogical Clinic in Wrocław run by the Foundation offers comprehensive help in child diagnostics and therapy, as well as advisory services to parents. Activities include, among others, psychotherapy, speech and pedagogical therapy (including improving the school skills: reading and writing), physical and hippotherapy, as well as psychological counseling: diagnosing learning difficulties and behavior problems, psychological advice for parents on developmental and educational psychology, and preventive and psycho-educational classes for students. The Clinic provides consultations and runs training courses for parents and teachers on, among other, diagnostics and therapy of dyslexia, dysorthography and dysgraphia, on stimulation of child development, early intervention, behavior and education issues and on working with children with behavior disorders. The Clinic runs a program of early development assistance, which involves concurrent and complementary actions by a team of specialists: educators, psychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, where work with the child is combined with a family oriented program.
Caretaking and Educational Activities The Foundation also runs an integrated nursery and kindergarten which provides comprehensive education and care to our charges. 75 children aged between 1.5 to 6 attend the kindergarten, a third of them having some degree of disability. Integrated classes and playtime facilitate development of the disabled children and teach their peers empathy and toleration. The kindergarten follows the principles of the Maria Montessori method, which emphasizes self-directed activities on the part of children, stimulates development of individual skills and interests, teaches self-reliance and responsibility. The advantage of the Montessori educational system is the special care provided by the teacher-guide who helps the child learn the world.
Publishing Activity The Foundation publishes books on child development and diagnostic and therapeutic methods, for example: “Vojta Method," "Munich Functional Development Diagnostics," “First 365 Days of Child's Life," as well as informational and educational brochures for parents. In addition, “Working Papers” published annually review the international conferences organized by the Foundation, presenting conference materials and lecture summaries. The Foundation also publishes the bulletin “Parents’ Guide on Child Mental and Motor Development” for parents and caretakers of disabled children, and to doctors and therapists. The bulletin addresses numerous problems of child mental and motor development, presents innovative methods of therapy and treatment.
Conferences For ten years now the Foundation has been organizing annual international conferences, where specialists invited from all over the world ensure that participants can learn about the latest diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The conferences enjoy unwavering popularity (over 500 attendees every year) and are reviewed in “Working Papers” published by the Foundation.
Training Courses The range of training courses offered by the Foundation deserves special attention. Training courses and workshops ending in certificates are addressed at both medical personnel and teachers wishing to increase their professional qualifications and parents. The Foundation is a leading training center in the Lower Silesia region. We cooperate with well-known domestic and foreign training centers specializing in children with developmental disorders. Our rich offer includes training courses authorized by the International PNF Association and Castillo Morales Vereinigung. Some of the courses are offered through the Professional Development Center for Teachers (qualification and development courses for educators).
Founders’ Board Foundation President prof. dr hab. n. med. Jan Pellar – pediatrician, cardiologist. Research fellow at Wrocław Medical University of long standing– Dean of Department I of Pediatrics, Allergology, and Cardiology. Expert for the Lower Silesia Chamber of Physicians. President of the Polish Pediatric Society. Author of approx. 200 scientific publications in Polish and foreign periodicals. Winner of numerous awards for outstanding work in the fields of research, teaching and healthcare.
Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
dr n. med. Grażyna Banaszek – pediatrician, child neurologist. Author of the book “Infant Development, Its Disorders and Vojta Method Therapy.” Initiator of and lecturer at diagnostics and therapy courses on the Vaclav Vojta method. Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca" Foundation.prof. dr hab. n. med.
Bogusław Halikowski – pediatrician.Gradute of the Medical Faculty at Jan Kazimierz University in Lvov. Professor of Medical Universities in Kraków and Szczecin, chaired both the Pediatric Clinic I of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin and theInstitute of Pediatrics. Member of the Polish Academy of SciencesPublished over 160 scientific papers.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
Prof. dr h.c.Theodor Hellbrügge – pediatrician, author of the Munich Functional Development Diagnostics for children under three. This was the basis for the concept of developmental therapy understood as early detection of disorders combined with early and multi-disciplinary therapy and early social integration of disabled children.Founder of Aktion Sonnenschein and Kinderzentrum in Munich.Expert for World Health Organization.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
Jan Benedykt Jaroszewicz – businessman.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
mgr Wojciech Jędrzejewski – specialist in Polish studies, publisher.Father of a disabled son.Initiated the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation. Originator of many noble and useful actions for disabled children.Works professionally in mass media and advertising.Author of the documentary films taking up the subject of the disabled children, among other “Request to God,” “Confession.”Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
Romuald Kus – businessman.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
mgr Henryk Mikorski – community worker, self-government activist in Wrocław (served during first 3 terms); awarded a Golden Cross of Merit; General Manager of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
ed.Magdalena Olszewska – TV journalist, anchor of many popular TV programs.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
dr n. med.Adriana Pietraszkiewicz – pediatrician; Vojta method instructor; member of a panel for coordination and monitoring of the government pilot program: “Early Multi-disciplinary, Comprehensive, Coordinated and Continuous Help for Children at Risk of Disability, Disabled Children and their Parents,” under the Ministry of National Education.
mgr Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz – graduate of Wrocław University and Warsaw School of Economics.Originator and founder of business organizations, including:the Polish Bank Association.Currently its chairman.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
Elżbieta Penderecka – promoter of classical music and actions popularizing Polish culture abroad.Wife of Krzysztof Penderecki – one of the most outstanding Polish composers.President of Ludwig van Beethoven Association.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
prof. dr hab.Aleksander Ronikier – graduate of Warsaw University of Physical Education, specialization - therapy, and of M. Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin,- specialization - human biology and physiology.Chair of Department of Biological Bases of Rehabilitation at Warsaw University of Physical Education.From 1993 member of the Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation Committee and of the Physical Education Committee at Polish Academy of Sciences.Member of the FIS Executive Committee in 1987-1995 and of the Executive Committee of European Non-Governmental Sport Organization.Vice President of the Polish Olympic Committee from 1997 to 2005.Author of many scientific publications and university textbooks.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
FatherJózef Tischner, Prof. dr dr h.c. – Moral and intellectual authority.Philosopher, writer, essayist, professor of the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Kraków, dean of its Faculty of Philosophy.President of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.Awarded the highest Polish state decoration: the Order of the White Eagle.Author of numerous scientific papers and books.In 1970s he celebrated famous Masses for Kindergarteners in Kraków.Great friend of disabled children.Original Founder of the “Promyk Słońca” Foundation.
Scientific Board Chair: prof. dr hab. n. med.Czesław Szmigiel
Deputy Chair: prof. dr hab. n. med.Irena Norska-Borówka
Members: prof. dr hab. n. med. Mieczysław Krauze prof. dr hab. n. k. f.Marek Woźniewski prof. dr hab. n. med. Zdzisław Zagrobelny dr n. med.Grażyna Banaszek dr n. med.Bożena Dołyk dr n. k. f.Wojciech Kiebzak Monika Hahlen mgr Joanna Surowińska mgr Grzegorz Serkies mgr Anna Fonfara dr Dorota Wójtowicz mgr Małgorzata Fuchs
Contact Fundacja "Promyk Słońca" (Ray of Sun Foundation) ul.1 Sierpnia 25 02 - 134 Warszawa
Oddział Fundacji "Promyk Słońca" (Branch of Ray of Sun Foundation) Centrum Diagnostyczno-Rehabilitacyjne (Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center) ul. Swobodna 8 a 50 - 088 Wroclaw
