From
Oppression to Optimism: A New Poland Emerges
A
Michigan State University Extension associate program leader talks about
her work as a volunteer and staff member building Polish 4-H Connections.
There is optimism among the people of Poland. They have tried on freedom and like the way it fits. Poland is ready for democracy.
This is the assessment of Julia Tarsa, an associate program leader for Michigan State University Extension. Tarsa has traveled to Poland three times since 1992 as part of Michigan's relationship with Poland in bringing 4-H to that country.
"The Poland project is very important," says Tarsa. "When I traveled there in '92 the people were very positive. For the first time they were free. When I went back in '94, there was great difficulty in making the transition to freedom," she explains. "The stores were beginning to have more goods on the shelves, but people had little money. When I went back in '95, there was optimism. Finally, the people were seeing they could reap the benefits of a new democracy."
Tarsa traveled to Poland the first time through the Polish American Extension Project (PAEP), which covered the cost of her housing, meals and travel. She donated her time for the two months she was there. Her more recent trips have been supported by Volunteers for Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA), which has been an important resource for the Michigan/Poland collaboration. VOCA, along with the Gerber Companies Foundation, has also assisted with the expenses incurred by Michigan 4-H Foundation director Donald Jost, in his role as special advisor to the Polish 4-H Foundation.
"The Poles have taken an idea [4-H] and made it their own," Tarsa says. "Much of the Poles' salaries go into meeting basic needs. They need the support we can give until their program gets established."
Tarsa is a former Clare County, Michigan 4-H youth agent. She spent her time in Poland traveling to the various provinces to meet with groups who want to initiate 4-H programs.
"The Polish people are very warm. They have a saying that when you have a guest in your home, you have God in your home. I was always treated very, very well," Tarsa says.
Tarsa was also involved in the 1995 three-day Natural Resources Environmental Education workshop at Kettunen Center for Michigan and Polish 4-H'ers. She shares the view expressed by many that Polish young people are eager to learn everything they can about how to protect their environment.
"In Poland, the communists were indiscriminate about how they dumped waste," she explains. "The Chernobyl accident in the Soviet Union also affected northern Poland. The youth are concerned about nuclear waste. They asked a lot of questions at Kettunen Center."
Tarsa was also part of the planning team for a weeklong workshop sponsored by the Polish 4-H Foundation held in Poland in 1996. Michigan
4-H'ers traveled to Poland to experience the workshop with 4-H'ers from Poland, Denmark, Hungary and other countries.