The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity also connects Poles scattered around the world. Compatriots play for the Orchestra in, among others, Australia, Asia and North America. Dozens of bars are also collecting money in European cities. They play in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Serbia, often arousing the curiosity of the locals.
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It cuts ice, warms hearts, and awakens the desire to help even in the farthest corners of the world. The sounds of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity echo throughout the land. The orchestra also plays at the Antarctic Station. Henryk Arctowski, and at the Polish Polar Station Hornsund. Melbourne is full of tennis emotions, not only. The party in Bali has started in the rhythm of helping.
– The weather was good, people were good, and so were the auctions. We have already collected almost 80 million, unfortunately, not rupees, not zlotys, but there are still three auctions on Allegro that are in progress – says Andrzej Jakubowski from the staff of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Bali.
Sounds played in the same key also came from Krabi, i.e. Chicken Island, and from several other places in Thailand. Polish tourists did not take holidays from playing with the Orchestra.
– People, despite the fact that it was a holiday atmosphere, came to us to do something good during this time, to contribute to the donation, to take part in the auction – says Angelika Sokół from the staff of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Krabi.
“Hello from Bali!” In Indonesia they also play with the Great Orchestra of Christmas CharityTVN24
They arouse the curiosity of local residents
“Youkoso”, meaning welcome, was shouted again by volunteers in the capital of Japan. The Polish restaurant was a feast for the spirit and body. Local musicians played, dumplings and fresh bread were served, along with cabbage and gherkins, and donuts for dessert. The Japanese did not hide their delight at the scale of the action.
– First of all, they are shocked that such a campaign exists and they imagine that 5 people will come, throw in the proverbial PLN 2 and something will be collected within a year. And when they hear the amounts that go through the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity every year, how great equipment we are able to buy, what events the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity organizes, (…) the Japanese are really pleasantly surprised that there is such an initiative in our country – says Edyta Dziemińska from headquarters of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Tokyo.
Runners rushed to help. They competed, among others, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as well as Southampton, England, Lille, France, and Brussels, Belgium.
– We are involved in great helping, we are European champions in helping. (…) Hundreds of people were with us, passers-by noticed us, but we also noticed that we do what we like, we love running, we love sports, we are able to interest other people and we can help – reports Robert Korzeniowski, four-time Olympic champion in race walking.
“We're so proud of it because it's a really great campaign.” The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity headquarters in Marbella ready for the finalFakty po Południu TVN24
The American Polonia did not disappoint
Concerts, auctions and fundraisers are also organized in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Serbia. As every year, the American Polonia plays with the Orchestra.
– We are working hard to make this finale look nice, so that people have fun every year, so that we have a lot of prizes, delicious food and simply to raise a lot of money – emphasizes Magda Kubicka from the staff of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Washington.
– One of our friends, friends of the Orchestra, offered us a ride in a small Fiat, or the so-called little car, around Washington. I also think this is a great auction. In addition, we have apartments in Zanzibar, oceanfront here, and in the mountains in West Virginia. There are also more and more interesting auctions, people donate more and more items, and more and more money comes from it – says Tomasz Łukaszewski from the staff of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Washington.
There were tasty treats to be won in the auctions – there was a T-shirt with Jerzy Owsiak's autograph, and the gadgets were shared by the Polish embassy in the United States.
– Poles can show solidarity. Poles know how to show their solidarity with those in need. And can there be anything more solidarity than solidarity with children suffering from cancer? So this year's goal of the Orchestra is absolutely special, because it is about children, and it is about children suffering from cancer – emphasizes Bogdan Klich, chargé d'affaires of the Republic of Poland in the United States.
WOŚP headquarters in Washington. “We double and triple”TVN24
They prove that they can unite and share kindness
Poles living abroad prove that they can unite and share kindness. Not only on this one day and not only with my compatriots. They help, among others, Indonesian children.
– We are involved in such an organization as Street Children. Two and a half thousand children have paid school fees. Then there's the Red Nose Foundation. There are also children who come from very poor families. Schools are paid for. With the help of WOŚP, it was probably five years ago, we donated a handheld ultrasound scanner to the island of Lombok, which was right after the earthquake – says Andrzej Jakubowski from the staff of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Bali.
In total, this weekend outside Poland, money for the treatment of children with cancer is collected by volunteers in nearly a hundred headquarters of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in over 20 countries.
WOŚP 2025. This is how much the Orchestra has collected in recent yearsTVN24
Main photo source: TVN24