Among the winners is a resident of Drawsko Pomorskie. The winners were met by Stanisław Wziątek, Member of the Board of Directors of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, and Maria Ilnicka-Mądry, President of the Assembly of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

In the current Financial Perspective 2014-2020, the competition is dedicated to beneficiaries and people involved in the implementation and implementation of the Western Pomeranian Voivodeship Regional Operational Program and the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program.

Candidates for nomination can be submitted by Beneficiaries receiving support from the European Social Fund, entities or persons involved in the implementation or receiving support, or persons generally interested in the subject of European Funds and the implementing departments of the VLO in Szczecin. In this year’s edition, a new category was added, which valued the contribution and commitment of beneficiaries in the implementation of health projects. In the “Investing in health” category, prizes were awarded to projects whose main activities are health education, conducting preventive examinations, but also helping people in a health crisis.

No fewer than 82 applications have been submitted for this year’s edition. The nominees are not only large institutions, organizations and foundations that have been implementing projects co-financed from European funds for years, but also individuals who have benefited from the support of the ESF and have changed their lives. The next stage of the competition was the nomination. The pre-selection committee, composed of employees of the Voivodship Labor Office in Szczecin, selected three nominees in each category.

In the “Passionate Beneficiary” category:

• West Pomeranian People’s University – Foundation
• The West Pomeranian Banner of the Polish Scouting Association
• Szczecin City Commune / Municipal Nursery Complex

In the “ESF Ambassador” category:

• Beata Chmielewska
• Slawomir Tkaczyk
• Paulina Igielska-Wlyk

In the “Equal Opportunities” category:

• Health Promotion Foundation
• Social Cooperative Home and Garden
• Municipality of Szczecin / Municipal Family Support Center in Szczecin / Childcare Center in Szczecin

In the “OP KED’s Best Beneficiary” category:

• Poviat Employment Office in Sławno
• Poviat Employment Office in Choszczno
• Poviat Employment Office in Koszalin

In the category “Youth in Action”:

• Katarzyna Pogranicznan
• Arkadiusz Obszynskic
• Patryk Panasiuk

In the category “The best beneficiary of the ROP WZ”:

• Bonin Foundation
• Counseling and Vocational Training Center Aleksander Igielski
• Regional Development Company of Koszalin SA

In the category “Investment in human resources”:

• Shipyard Darłowo M&W sp.Z oo
• Platan Meble sp.Z oo
• Zakład Usługowo-Handlowy ELWIKO Stanisław Dropik

In the “Educational Investments” category:

• Association of Friends of Children, Western Pomerania Regional Branch in Szczecin
• Łętowski Consulting Training, advice, development Mateusz Łętowski
• Wałecki poviat

In the category “Investing in health”:

• Independent Public Provincial Complex Hospital in Szczecin
• Sonomed Limited Liability Company
• West Pomeranian Voivodeship – Regional Center for Social Policy

In the category “Investing in a social enterprise”:

• Department of Professional Activity Central Kitchen in Stargard
• Social Cooperative Wspólna Gmina
• Social Cooperative Pod Dębami

In the next phase, the competition jury was appointed. Representatives of the scientific world, institutions implementing European funds, representatives of employers and people involved in helping the weak were invited to participate in the session. They made the hardest choice. Based on the application materials and films about nominated projects, institutions and people received from the Voivodship Labor Office in Szczecin, winners were selected in each of these categories.

Here are the winners of this year’s edition of the “West Pomerania Magnolias ESF”:

1. In the category “Beneficiary with passion”: Szczecin City Commune / Municipal Nurseries Complex
2. In the “ESF Ambassador” category: Sławomir Tkaczyk
3. In the “Equal Opportunities” category: Health Promotion Foundation
4. In the category “The best beneficiary of OP KED”: Poviat Employment Office in Sławno
5. In the category “Youth in Action”: Patryk Panasiuk
6. In the category “The best beneficiary of the ROP WZ”: Aleksander Igielski Advisory and Vocational Training Center
7. In the category “Investment in human resources”: Stocznia Darłowo M&W sp.Z oo
8. In the category “Investing in education”: Wałecki Poviat
9. In the category “Investment in health”: independent public provincial complex hospital in Szczecin
10. In the category “Investment in a social enterprise”: Center for Professional Activity Central Kitchen in Stargard

On Monday, October 25, 2021, the Voivodship Labor Office in Szczecin handed out magnolia figurines. The ceremony, which took place at the Castle Opera in Szczecin, was attended by, among others, Member of the Board of Governors of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Stanisław Wziątek, President of the Assembly of the West Pomeranian Province Maria Ilnicka-Mądry, Director of the VLO in Szczecin Andrzej Przewoda, members of the competition jury, representatives of the world of science and entrepreneurs, and above all the nominees and winners of this competition.

– To change the world you need courage and an open heart. Today we reward those who implement funds with passion and great dedication – said the member of the board of directors of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship at the opening of the gala Stanislaw Wzietek.

During the gala many stories could be heard in which the main role is played by humans. Stories in which the European Social Fund changed the lives of many. It was not without emotions and reflections, many beautiful words and thanks were expressed. All unanimously confirmed that EU funds help change reality.