Introduction

The ‘Against the Odds’ foundation is a public benefit organization, founded in September 2003 by Anna Dymna, an actress, who performs the function of the chairperson of the Foundation on a voluntary basis.
Initially, our Foundation focused on maintaining therapeutic workshops and caring for the twenty-six participants thereof - intellectually disabled persons living in Brother Albert’s Hostel in Radwanowice near Kraków (as a result of the amendment of the Professional and Social Rehabilitation Act of 20 December 2002 they lost the right to attend Occupational Therapy Workshops financed by the National Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Fund). The difficult situation of ill and disabled persons in Poland induced us to expand the scope our activity. Help offered by our Foundation is always purposeful and concrete.

Currently Anna Dymna’s ‘Against the Odds’ Foundation, in cooperation with the National Disabled Persons Fund, Adam Mickiewicz Institute and Polish Television organizes and co-organizes integration events, bidding auctions, conferences; it cooperates with the medical community and other non-government organizations; it runs sub-accounts, funds scholarships, offers financial assistance for rehabilitation holidays, purchases medicine, organizes material help and coordinates the work of the voluntary service. We are also building two rehabilitation centres: in Radwanowice near Kraków and in the seaside town of Lubiatów.

The idea of our activity is to level the chances of disabled and non-disabled persons - removing the mental barriers that exist between them. Through our activity we prove that a person who is ill, blind, paralyzed or needs to use crutches or a wheelchair to move about is just like any other person, possessing similar talents and needs as people full of life and strength do. We took the name of our Foundation from the ‘Against the Odds’ text, engraved on one of poorhouses run by Mother Theresa in Calcutta.

Anna Dymna’s ‘Against the Odds’ Foundation has been awarded the Benemerenti Diploma by the Military Ordinariate of the Polish Army and the Chapter of the National Contest organized by the Polish Organization of Disabled Persons’ Employers awarded it with the ‘Icebreaker 2007’ prize.

A word from Anna Dymna

Dear Friend!
The world is beautiful and amazing. Unfortunately, not for everyone.
There are many people around us who are ill, disabled, hurt by fortune or unable to cope with their problems. Lack of care and funds makes them sink into poverty and despair. They are helpless and lonely. They live silently on the fringe of our reality. Mental barriers humiliate and hurt them.
Does illness or disability have to bereave a person of their humanity and the right to dignified life?
Do they have to destroy dreams, talents, and ambitions? Perhaps we can help people who suffer and change their fate at least a bit - give them a chance for normal life close to us? I firmly believe that we can achieve this by working together. Sometimes a little gesture, a smile, an ordinary chat is enough to give someone hope, strength and courage. Such small, warm gestures, meetings, conversations, mutual trust and smiles are the source of my Foundation. Its activity is like rays of sunshine that have already brought light to some dark and rough paths.
We are growing. We have true, devoted Friends, Donors, Volunteers and we believe more and more that life can be better for every person.
Join us! We can do many great things together! Let's change the world together!