Category: I’m a resident

We collect together for layettes for babies. #napomocUkrainie

Posted on by obc_adm

 

We are collecting money for layettes for babies who go with their mothers to the Gdańsk Helps Ukraine centre!

 

We are not slowing down! We have collected over PLN 11,000 to equip care rooms for mothers and babies who, after fleeing war-torn Ukraine, are sent to the Gdańsk Helps Ukraine coordination point. With the funds donated by the Olivia Centre Community, we bought soft blankets, cones to wrap babies, bottles, pacifiers, breast pumps and many, many other urgently needed things. 

 

Together, we decided that we wanted to continue helping, because the time spent in the childcare room at the coordination point is just the beginning.

 

Volunteers of the Gdańsk Helps Ukraine Centre signalled to us the need to prepare packages with the most necessary care and hygiene products that mothers could take with them, regardless of where they find shelter.

 

One package includes, m.in: a large pack of diapers, wet wipes, breast pads, a pack of cloth diapers, a pacifier, a bottle, cream for the baby and for the mother, a blanket and a baby toy. It’s not much, but it’s also a lot. The cost of one package is PLN 350.

 

  • The PLN 50 you pay is a pack of diapers or 10 cloth diapers.
  • PLN 30 is a specialist care cream or a baby toy. 
  • For PLN 20 we can buy a pack of breast pads or a two-pack of care wipes.

 

We will be able to complete and deliver packages for babies on an ongoing basis, even before the full amount is collected, but our goal is to collect the amount for 20 full sets. It’s an easier start for 20 moms and their babies.

 

And together we can do even more!

 

PS. There are 12,000 of us working at Olivia Centre on a daily basis. We differ from each other in terms of age, positions and companies. We come from different districts, cities and even countries. But our community is united by passions and initiatives that change the world for the better. This time, we want Ukrainian mothers and their children to feel cared for when they come to our city. Thanks to the fundraiser, we can more easily raise funds for packages that will help mothers and toddlers in the new, difficult reality.

 

 

DONATE TO THE FUNDRAISER HERE

“Heart with Ukraine” – we invite you to a unique charity concert

Posted on by obc_adm

“With a Heart with Ukraine” is a unique charity concert with which we want to express our solidarity with the fighting Ukraine. On 28 March, on the 34th floor of Olivia Star in Gdańsk, Polish and Ukrainian artists will perform, performing solo and choral works. The repertoire will include both contemporary compositions and those that have become a permanent part of the history of Polish and Ukrainian music.

 

Support

All proceeds from the event will be used to support the Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk, which coordinates the activities of the Gdańsk Helps Ukraine centre. The funds from the sale of invitations will allow for the purchase of layettes for babies who go with their caregivers to the reception point at hive. Karmelicka 1 in Gdansk.

 

Who will perform?

On the stage located 150 meters above the ground, the Baltic Opera Choir (cond. Agnieszka Długołęcka), the Cantores Veiherovienses Choir (cond. Tomasz Chyła), the Art’n’Voices Vocal Ensemble and Les Femmes – an independent classical music ensemble will perform. Soloists have also confirmed their participation: Sviatoslav Kondrativ, Artem Storozhuk, Victor Korunnyy, Zoya Rozhok, Liana Krasyun-Korunna, Marta Jundziłł, Karolina Borowczyk, Jakub Borowczyk, Magdalena Burkiewicz, Martyna Chomuszko and Maciej Baczyński. The concert will close with a performance by the Olivia Centre Choir conducted by Wiktoria Batarowska.

 

Tickets for “Heart with Ukraine”

To receive a ticket for the concert, you need to make a donation of at least PLN 30 to the fundraiser for Ukrainian children and their mothers, created at the following address: zrzutka.pl/z/paczkadlamaluszka

 

When making a payment, you need to select the prize “Ticket to the charity concert HEART WITH UKRAINE”. A confirmation will be sent to the e-mail address provided during the payment. Entry to the concert is based on the list of guests who make a donation.

 

1 donation = 1 ticket

 

The concept of the concert was created by Wiktoria Batarowska, a native of Zhytomyr and the conductor of the Olivia Centre Choir.

 

DONATE TO PICK UP YOUR CONCERT TICKET

Artists (according to the programme of performances)

Baltic Opera Choir – established in 1950. He performs music of various styles and epochs – from Purcell to Stravinsky and Britten. Regardless of the changing number of members, the band was acclaimed by national and international critics, who always emphasized the power of the band’s sound, even with a reduced line-up. In recent years, the OB Choir has received praise for its participation in productions such as Beethoven’s Fidelio , Wagner’s Tannhauser , Bellini’s Norma and Faust.

The Cantores Veiherovienses Choir was inaugurated on 6 January 1985. in Wejherowo. The originator and founder of the choir was Marek Rocławski, a graduate of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, and today its lecturer and professor. The ensemble is a member of the Gdańsk Branch of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras, and has collaborated with many cultural institutions of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, m.in. with the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk, the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot, and the Polish Baltic Philharmonic. The ensemble’s repertoire spans different eras: from the Middle Ages to the present day; religious and secular music, artistic arrangements of folk songs and Negro spirituals.

Art’n’Voices is a vocal octet active since 2010. It consists of musicians who have been associated with the choral scene of the Tri-City and Wejherowo for many years, as well as with the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. The ensemble specializes in performing a cappella music for eight voices.

Les Femmes is an independent classical music ensemble founded in 2011. in the Tri-City. Finalist of the International Cadenza Contest, Italy 2021, in the Ensembles category. The main stream of the ensemble consists of original opera collages dating back to the pasticcio tradition of the 17th and 18th centuries. To date, the ensemble has performed over 400 concerts and performances on Polish and foreign music stages.

Sviatoslav Kondrativ – a well-known violinist and composer in Ukraine. A graduate of the Academy of Music in Lviv. He has been called the most romantic violinist in Ukraine. On March 5, he was forced to leave his Ukrainian home to save his life.

Artem Storozhuk – a graduate of the Zhytomyr Academy of Music. Pyotr Tchaikovsky in Kiev. Since 2018, he has been a soloist of the Baltic Opera Choir.

Viktor Korunnyy – a graduate of the Lviv Academy of Music in the French horn class, a former soloist of the Lviv Philharmonic and the Jelenia Góra Philharmonic. Currently, he is a first voice musician at the Baltic Opera.

Zoya Rozhok – soprano, soloist of the Ukrainian National Opera, associate professor of solo singing at the National Academy of Music of Ukraine Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Laureate of international competitions, participant of numerous international festivals. She has given concerts in opera houses and concert halls m.in. Ukraine, Belarus, Polish, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, France, Spain, Malta and the USA.

Liana Krasyun-Korunna is a Ukrainian pianist who has been active in Poland since 2004. She graduated with honours from the Lviv Academy of Music in the piano class of prof. Oksana Rapita, completed her studies at the Academy of Music in Wrocław under the supervision of Prof. Olga Rusina. Currently, he is a soloist tutor at the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk and a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk as a tutor at the Faculty of Vocal and Acting. He collaborates with the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot and the Polish Chamber Choir.

Marta Jundziłł – mezzo-soprano. A graduate of the Academy of Music. Stanisław Moniuszko University in Gdańsk, at the Faculty of Vocal and Acting, specialization in Solo Singing and Artistic Education in the Field of Musical Art, specialization in Culture Animation with Elements of Art Therapy. She has received several scholarships from the Rector of the Academy of Music for her artistic achievements. On a daily basis, she is associated with the choir ensemble of the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk, as a choir artist – alto.

Karolina Borowczyk – mezzo-soprano. A graduate of the Academy of Music. Stanisław Moniuszko in Gdansk. Since the beginning of 2018 collaborates with the Cappella Gedanensis ensemble. He gives concerts in Poland and abroad. She is a performer of many contemporary works written by Gdańsk composers: Anna Rocławska, Wojciech Frycz, Piotr Jędrzejczyk and Joanna Złotkowska. She received a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport. She is working on her own project entitled: “Mickiewicz.” (2021)

Jakub Borowczyk – opera singer, countertenor. For many years he was associated with the Poznań Philharmonic Choir “Poznań Nightingales” under the baton of Stefan Stuligrosz. Scholarship holder of the Marshal of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship in the field of culture. He collaborates with the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk, the Polish Royal Opera, and the Opera at the Castle in Szczecin. He successfully performs music of various eras. From the Renaissance to contemporary music m.in. Lera Auerbach, Krzesimir Dębski and Paweł Szymański.

Martyna Chomuszko and Magdalena Burkiewicz – graduates of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. They were brought together by their joint work at the Non-Public Primary Music School in Sopot, where, apart from teaching, they give concerts together.

Maciej Baczyński – a pianist associated with Gdańsk from an early age. A graduate of master’s studies at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. Laureate of national and international competitions. She is actively involved in various artistic initiatives, and also runs her own popularizing and educational project entitled “Musicophilia”, via YouTube and social media.

Olivia Centre Choir – was created on the joint initiative of Bayer and Olivia Centre. Currently, it has about 50 people and brings together representatives of a dozen or so Olivia resident companies, such as m. among others. AirHelp, Pomerania Development Agency, Alexander Mann Solutions, Avaus, Bayer, Energa, Lyreco, Nordea, Olivia Centre, O4 Coworking, PwC, Ricoh, Sii, Skills Group, Thinking Zone, Winning Moves and Olivia’s Friends. The choir conducts a wide range of concerts and adds splendour to celebrations organized mainly by Olivia. The repertoire of the Olivia Centre Choir includes mainly popular music, as well as classical music, as well as carols and pastorals from different parts of the world.

Olivia, definitely more than a business!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Surely you have noticed, if you follow our activities, that for years we have been consistently expanding the offer of functions friendly to the employees of our center, residents of the Tri-City and tourists. We regularly introduce new services to make your life and work much better. On the premises of Olivia there is a public botanical garden – Olivia Garden, a very popular observation deck (at a height of 130 meters above the ground), 8 restaurants, a medical center and a pharmacy. We also have a kindergarten and a school. There is a beauty salon, an Energa customer service point and a Talent Development Centre. There are also a car wash and a grocery store. Now, our non-business character will also be emphasized in the name, which from May 2022 is Olivia Centre, and it is complemented by the slogan “More than business”.

 

Olivia Centre, with all its amenities, is increasingly becoming an important part of Gdansk. Over the years of development, 12,000 jobs have been created in our area, to which should be added the employees of co-operating companies. Olivia is home to the offices of over 200 companies, including the world’s largest corporations, such as Amazon, Bayer, Nike and EPAM; medium-sized companies from over a dozen industries, but also small and micro-enterprises, mainly concentrated in the O4 co-working. Olivia’s development policy includes the gradual introduction of new amenities, which make this place an increasingly fashionable location, where it is pleasant to spend time with family and friends not only during the week, but also on weekends. Importantly, the consistently implemented plan of diversifying the functions available in our area allows us to define Olivia Centre as a place not only for business and work, but also for recreation, entertainment and integration.

 

In 2020, the opening of the observation deck on the 32nd floor of Olivia Star was awarded by the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship as the event of the year. The status of a place for meetings and non-professional interactions is also confirmed by concerts in the event center, located on the 34th floor of this building. Such stars as Krzysztof Zalewski and Daria Zawiałow, have already performed on Olivia Star’s stage. In Olivia, there are also active clubs for the development of passions (sailing, volleyball, photography, running) and a choir, bringing together employees of companies with offices here and residents of the Tri-City, who are not professionally related to Olivia.

 

“From the very beginning, Olivia has focused on integration with the city and the development of a lively and active community ,” says Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre for Urban Development. public relations. We want everyone to feel welcome here. Certainly, the commissioning of Olivia Garden, the observation deck and the restaurant on the top floors of Olivia Star was a milestone in making our space more attractive, but we can assure you that many people will find interesting proposals here on a daily basis, allowing them to feel at home. The slogan “More than business” also emphasizes that the community of employees of companies from Olivia is a collection of wonderful people who combine their strengths and competences to develop their interests. It is also a group of social activists who are actively involved in a number of noble and useful initiatives. During the pandemic, they themselves initiated a collection of computers for children at risk of digital exclusion during the period of remote learning. For years, they have been organizing the Kropelka Energii campaign, which took place last month for the 47th time. They also actively participated in the collection of gifts for Ukrainians in Olivia. During the season, our patio is alive with active events: concerts, chillout zones and other numerous attractions are organized.

 

Olivia Centre is also an active and engaged neighbour. For 3 years we have been organizing, for example: The Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget, under which we support and finance initiatives that are important to the residents of the Gdańsk Oliwa district (where we operate). We also cooperate with the neighbouring Primary School No. 35 in the organisation of many events and initiatives. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we financed food for hospital employees, medical equipment and protective clothing, as well as two diagnostic centres, which were set up at the hospital in Gdańsk’s Zaspa district and at the campus of the University of Gdańsk.

 

Discover your inner child… with Olivia!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Who among us does not remember with nostalgia childhood years… Beater, playing gum, skipping rope and hopscotch, mysteries, bottle caps and hide and seek. Exchanging colourful pieces of paper (who had a binder with them?), colourful braids, onion hairstyles, ribbons in their hair and bright scrunchies… And in kindergarten? Immortal groats with cherry juice and fruit compote. And the best sandwiches in the world, those prepared “quickly” by your mother or grandmother – bread with sugar and cream. We grabbed the “kromal” and woo, we ran back to the playground, the meadow, the garden behind the house or straight to the neighbor.

 

And after that introduction… Remark… Welcome to the day when we will all go back in time! It’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be cool and each of us will be able to do it again DISCOVER YOUR INNER CHILD! On June 7 in Olivia, Children’s Day For Us, or for Adults.

 

Below is a list of our fantastic Olivia Companies who said “Yes! Let’s take part!” and which will remind us “how it used to be” (i.e. in the past, in the past; after: Dictionary of the Polish Language online, sjp.pl).

 

Here’s what they offered! Thank you and we can’t wait. More details in a moment, but get ready to take a leap into the past. See you on Wednesday, June 7, 2022, at Olivia’s patio, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 

And on June 4, we invite you and your children to the Oliwa Children’s Day with our Neighbor, Primary School No. 35!

 

Plan of attractions/stands of event partners

 

Santander Car Driving Simulator (with Times Ranking!)
tasting of delicious coffee
White Kitten soap bubbles
hopscotch (also in Spanish)
jumping gum (remember “Tens”?)
City Fit treadmill – after all, we were running to a friend in a few seconds
stationary bikes to feel the wind in your hair
Silent Design

braiding colorful braids – ladies

Patterns on the head – gentlemen
Onion hairstyles
ponytails with colorful terry cloths

 
Speednet A position with… popcorn
Flipper (with prizes for the best results)
Natka

Live cooking: sweet waffles with marshmallows, jelly beans, colorful sprinkles and fruit (splendor)

pasta with strawberries

lemonade

 
Lobster

barbecue

Something else (to be determined!)

 
Energa  

An electric show car with the possibility of going inside – it’s a bigger version of a battery-powered car:)

yacht – as above, only it is a watercraft:)

Mobile basket basket

3×3 players

Throwing Contest

Balls for Challenge Participants

 

 
O4 Coworking O4 style networking
Nike Oculus, or virtual reality – it’s more so for those who were a child not so long ago…
a stand with electric skipping ropes that measure the number of jumps
RPG Club Game Showcase
presentation of characters and miniatures for RPG games
invitation to RPG workshops

That’s it for now, just by way of introduction, so that we can prepare. After all, you have to find comfortable shoes (they are probably in the basement); grow your hair a little and warn your boss (gentlemen) that you will return to the office with a zigzag behind your ear; postpone the meeting with a very serious contractor to Tuesday (ladies) to go crazy on June 7 with a storm of hair into which we will weave a colorful mouline. And warn your family that you’re going to come home from work extremely happy and you’re going to watch your beloved movies and cartoons from your childhood all evening. We recommend that you do it with your loved ones. It’s going to be a great opportunity to reminisce as a family, isn’t it?

 

See you!

 

Speednet with the Olivia Centre Cup!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

It was two days of great emotions. Over 100 players from 13 teams competed in the 1st Volleyball Tournament for the Olivia Cup. They were fast and tireless! They overcame fatigue and weakness. In the end, Speednet and PwC faced off in the grand finale! Won… Speednet, defeating their rival in two sets (2:0). Silver in the hands of PwC. The third place on the podium was taken by the Bayer team, who fought with the team from Sii in the semi-finals. The MVP of the tournament was Grzegorz from Speednet, playing (really like a lion) with the number 3.

 

Olivia made it to the quarterfinals. We were eliminated only after a fierce battle with the already mentioned Bayer.

 

The quarter-final matches were played by:

  • Sii vs Lyreco
  • Bayer vs Olivia Centre
  • O4 Coworking vs PwC
  • Speednet vs Olivia’s Friends

Semi finals:

  • Sii vs PwC
  • Bayer vs Speednet

Final:

  • Speednet vs PwC (2:0)

Thank you for this extraordinary time!

 

 

Group Stage Results

 

 

 

GROUP A

  1. Sii
  2. Olivia Centre
  3. Telus International
  4. Nike

GROUP B

  1. Bayer
  2. Lyreco Advantage
  3. Ricoh

GROUP C

  1. O4 Coworking (mix: Zaplify, Fellow Finance, Winning Moves, PredictX, O4)
  2. Olivia’s Friends
  3. Aspire Power Club

GROUP D

  1. Speednet
  2. PwC
  3. Oliva & Chill

Children’s Day in Oliwa with our Neighbour!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Together with Primary School No. 35 in Gdańsk Oliwa, we are pleased to invite all small and large Residents and Friends of the Olivia Centre to participate in the Oliwa Children’s Day!

 

When?
On Saturday, June 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Where?
On the playground of Primary School No. 35 (yes, they are our close neighbours), at ul. Wąsowicza 30 in Gdansk

 

For whom?
For all friends of Olivia Centre and Primary School No. 35

IN THE PROGRAM (among others)

  • Performances of rock bands, including: Tymon Tymański & Kosma
  • Performance of the Olivia Centre Choir
  • “Got Talent” Contest
  • Dance shows
  • Football match
  • Quizzes for the audience
  • Learning to skate

 

Stands & Workshops

  • Hockey
  • Figure skating
  • Handball
  • Bouncy castles
  • Artistic
  • Reading
  • Baby Zone
  • Fancy Faces
  • Small Builder

 

Family Competitions

  • Tug-of-war
  • Football matches
  • Orienteering
  • Acrobatic Track

 

There will also be a Food Truck zone, access to free water for all participants, a café and a lemonade stand.

 

Mark your calendars, bring your family and friends!

Let’s meet on June 4th!

 

Agenda of the event:

 

MAIN STAGE

11:00-11:10 Welcoming all

11:10-11:25 Choir of Residents and Friends of Olivia

11:25-11:30 I entrance of the Gdańsk Umbrella

11:30-11:35 Scottish dance show

11:35-12:00 Generational music – Tymon and Kosma Tymański

12:00-12:25 Got Talent – school edition

12:25-12:45 Quiz about the School, Olivia Centre and the district – (1 of 10)

12:45-12:50 ACK – dance show

12:50-13:10 Zumba

13:10-13:15 Second ascent of the Gdańsk Umbrella

13:15-13:25 Dance performances by students of Primary School 35

13:25-13:35 ACK – dance show

13:35-14:00 Concert Nawia (Ola?)

14:00-14:20 Selection of the nicest graduate

14:20-14:35 Skating pairs on stage

14:35-14:55 Final of the Gdańsk Umbrella lottery, Jerusalem dance

14:55-15:25 Concert Ilia

SCHOOL

Exhibition of the Provincial Photography Competition “Oliwa”

Reading Room – School Chronicles

“BALLOON”

11:00-11:30 Hobby Horse

11:30-12:00 Fun for children

12:00-12:30 Celtic dance workshop

12:30-13:00 Kin-Ball

13:00-13:30 75 Handball Goal Competition

13:00-13:30 Tug-of-war competition for alumni, parents, employees of Primary School 35, residents of OBC

13:30-14:00 Rope Game

14:00-14:30 Family fitness games m.in.: hula hoop circles, jumping in bags parent with child

 

GYM

11:00-14:00 Gymnastic path, trampolines

 

MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS FIELD

1:00-12:00 Inline skating lessons

11:00-14:00 School Discipline Stations

 

SAND PITCH

13:00-14:00 Volleyball match

 

Square at ul. Wąsowicza

11:00-15:00 Orienteering

 

A square behind the pitch

11:00-15:00 Bouncy castles

 

WELCOME!

 

The “Buddy in O4” Project has been launched

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The O4 Coworking community in Olivia Centre has joined forces to help its Ukrainian neighbours settle down. Not only in the coworking space in Olivia, but also in the Tri-City. This is how the “Buddy in O4” project was created to support the Ukrainian community.

 

Why “Buddy”?

 

3.9 million people fleeing the war in Ukraine have already reached Polish.* Thus, for the first time in history, the population of Polish has exceeded 40 million. Almost 224,000 refugees from Ukraine have stayed in Gdansk alone.**

 

– O4 Coworking helps from the very beginning. When people from Ukraine started coming to us, we offered to help them use our workspace for free. In total, more than 30 of our Ukrainian neighbours have already taken advantage of this opportunity. Many people have already declared their continued cooperation and prolongation of their stay at O4 Coworking. However, we wondered if we could do something more for them – says Marta Moksa, Manager of O4 Coworking.

 

Out of the need for support, not only financially, but also in everyday life and functioning in the local community, the “Buddy in O4” project was born.

 

“On the one hand, we have noticed that people want to help not only financially. They can share something much more valuable – their free time and knowledge about the Tri-City. On the other hand, we have noticed the problems that people from Ukraine are facing. First of all, difficulties with adapting to a new environment, caused by the language barrier, unfamiliarity with local places, or the lack of a person with whom they could simply spend their free time – emphasizes Karolina Rymarczyk, project coordinator.

 

According to a survey conducted in the O4 community among Ukrainian refugees, the most common challenges are: learning Polish, lack of friends on site and the lack of opportunities to meet new people, limited opportunities to develop their passions, or lack of knowledge about places in the Tri-City that people from Ukraine would be happy to use.

 

– Behind the numbers are specific people with their own distinct stories and needs. One of the most common needs is to settle in a new city, a new workplace, a new housing estate. That’s why we at O4 asked ourselves: What can we do to make it easier for them to find their way in the new reality? That’s how Buddy was created,” adds Marta Moksa.

 

A project to support the Ukrainian community

 

This project aims to help people of Ukrainian descent who have recently joined the O4 community. It consists mainly in helping to find oneself in a new environment and in facilitating the organization of everyday life. In challenges such as: getting from Orunia to Gdynia, buying Internet access to a rented apartment from a local supplier, visiting a doctor or dentist, understanding the rules in force in offices – a “buddy” can help.

 

Buddy is a buddy – a guardian of a person from Ukraine. Its task is to support a specific person in what they currently need, depending on what they are struggling with. A friend is also a person with whom you can spend time socializing, go out for pizza, to the cinema, go for a walk, talk about various topics, and at the same time practice Polish and English. Kumpel is a guide that brings the Tri-City world closer. Life in Poland, with a “buddy” by your side, is simply going to become easier.

 

Engaged O4 Coworking community

 

The project was joined by 20 people from O4 Coworking, who expressed their readiness in their free time to accompany their neighbours from Ukraine in everyday matters.

 

At the beginning of June, the first introductory meeting was organized in the coworking space for people who applied for the project so that they could get to know each other better, exchange contacts and declare with whom they would like to undertake further cooperation.

 

– At the team-building meeting, we used the “speed dating” method, which works great for us in recruitment and conversations between students and potential employers. And so the 16 participants of the meeting had a chance to talk for 5 minutes with each person, and it lasted only 1 hour! After these conversations, everyone chose 3 potential people with whom they felt the most flow. At the end, of course, there was pizza. Our networking experience shows us that nothing brings people together like talking over a meal. Now all that’s left is to put them together in “buddy pairs. I believe that these new acquaintances can bring a lot of good for both parties. – comments Karolina Rymarczyk.

 

The project is very popular among the coworking community, and there is no shortage of people willing to help their Ukrainian neighbours. People who could not be present at the integration meeting declare their support in further activities. It is also planned to extend the project beyond coworking and invite people from the entire Olivia Centre community:

 

– The current project is dedicated to O4ians from Ukraine and the O4 community working in our coworking space. However, we are also thinking about telling other companies in Olivia Centre about it. Probably many people from Ukraine employed here would be happy to use the help of a “buddy”. Who knows, maybe soon the name “Buddy in O4” will have to be changed to “Buddy in Olivia” or “Buddy in the Tri-City”? – adds Karolina Rymarczyk.

 

 

 

*data as of 08.06.2022, source: Twitter @Straz_Graniczna

**data as of 01.04.2022, https://metropolie.pl/fileadmin/user_upload/UMP_raport_Ukraina_20220429_final.pdf

Leaders from Olivia Centre and O4 Coworking inspire students from Fregata

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Olivia Centre and O4 Coworking, with the first coworking space for women in Poland – O4 Flow, start cooperation with the Fregata Primary School for Girls from Gdańsk Oliwa. The aim is to inspire young women who are just making their first important educational decisions – e.g. about major classes in secondary schools. Thanks to meetings with leaders from large, international corporations and from the world of ICT, students will have a chance to believe that the world of new technologies, engineering and programming is waiting for them and needs them very much.

 

The first meetings with Beata Stramska from FinestMedia and NordHR and Anetta Lasota from thyssenkrupp aroused enthusiasm from both sides! With great conviction and heart, Beata and Aneta showed how much good awaits women who dare to enter the world of new technologies. And the great attentiveness, class and interest of the girls encouraged the speakers to declare their willingness to continue their support!

 

– Polish girls still lack real “heroines”. There are not enough female engineers, programmers and bosses in the public space. A live meeting of women who are coping in this world, know it and see how much more women are needed in it, is our work at the grassroots level. There are still many ideas for cooperation ahead of us – we will be able to announce something more soon. It’s great that Fregata cares about promoting the idea among female students that they can become anything they want: a lawyer, a full-time mom, or an IT specialist. The most important thing is that they choose consciously. O4 Flow and Olivia will be very happy to help them by showing them various interesting stories of women from our community – says Marta Moksa, O4 Coworking.

– A few conversations with young people are enough to discover that the concept of authority has become very distant for them. In a world focused on highlighting flaws, they must learn to relearn how to separate what is valuable from what is ideal. To discover that successful people, just like them, face difficulties, moments of doubt, or drops in form. Get to know fascinating biographies and mentors whose experiences they can draw on to build their identity, which doesn’t necessarily mean following the same path. That is why I cared so much about the “Successful Woman” project for students in grades 7-8. These young women are on the threshold of their maturity and the first important choices about their future life path. I am very happy that thanks to the cooperation with Olivia Centre and O4 Flow they can meet so many amazing women, full of passion and having different criteria of success, and yet happy and fulfilled in what they do. Years of support from teachers are not the same as seeing with their own eyes that the world really is their oyster and it is up to them to decide who they will be. And we’ll be looking back on it with pride, and we’re very grateful for this cooperation. – says Monika Wierzbicka, director of Fregata.

 

We will keep you informed about the next stages of the project.

The third edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget has been launched

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget is a programme supporting social initiatives of the inhabitants of Oliwa. The aim of the project is to develop the potential of the district, modernize the common space and support activities integrating the Oliwa community. On 11 June, the call for proposals for the third edition of the budget began.

 

As in the first and second editions, also this year the pool of funds allocated for co-financed projects will amount to PLN 18 thousand. 12,000 zlotys were donated by Olivia Business Centre, and 6,000 by Andrzej Stelmasiewicz, a councillor of the City of Gdańsk from the area of Oliwa. Both soft projects (organization of meetings, courses or workshops) as well as infrastructure projects that will permanently fit into the character of the Oliwa space can apply for funding. The call for applications in this year’s edition started on 11 June, and you can submit them until the end of the summer holidays. The announcement of the results is scheduled for the first half of September 2022.

 

In last year’s edition, three projects were co-financed:

  • Christmas Festival at the Market Square in Oliwa, submitted by the City Initiative Association. It is a social and cultural event, which included decorative workshops for children and adults, joint arrangement of space, a Christmas fair and music.
  • Sports and educational path at Primary School No. 35 with Sports Departments Jan Parandowski in Gdansk. The installation enables outdoor fun and learning for all the little inhabitants of the district.
  • Tai Chi in Oliwa, submitted by the Park On Association. The project included 38 hours of Tai Chi classes for people with Parkinson’s disease, caregivers and people willing to conduct this form of activity.

 

– Funding under the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget is granted to projects implemented in Oliwa, most often by the residents themselves and local institutions, and their selection is made by local social activists, city and district councillors who know the needs of our local community very well, so we are convinced that this initiative hits the mark and contributes to the development of Oliwa. – says Bogusław Wieczorek, representative of Olivia Centre. “In the previous edition, we managed to co-finance a wide variety of areas of local activity and we hope that this year will be similar. Together with the residents, we have managed to create a sustainable program for the development of the place where we all live and work. Adds.

 

YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT HERE

Graphcore R&D Center in Olivia

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Graphcore, one of the world’s most innovative companies, develops computing systems for artificial intelligence that are backed by global technology leaders including Sequoia Capital, Fidelity International, BMW iVentures, Dell, Microsoft, and Samsung, as well as recognized AI innovators such as Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Deepmind, and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Scott Gray, and Pieter Abbeel.

 

The company has designed a processor called the Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), whose architecture allows researchers to apply new machine learning methods and algorithms that have not been available with existing technologies. In the Polish office, Graphcore employees introduce artificial intelligence solutions in large research and development units working in HPC (High Performance Computing) technology, which can be used in a wide range of applications. One of the effects of the implementations so far is a 5-fold acceleration of medium-term weather forecasts (including tornado warnings). The systems used allow for the discovery of new drugs or support physical simulations of matter particles at the Large Hadron Collider at the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva.

 

The IPU is currently a state-of-the-art processor, designed by the company to meet the unique computing requirements of AI-enabled processes. Graphcore systems are used in many industries, m.in. in pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, financial services, automotive and consumer internet services and provide unique opportunities to drive innovation in machine intelligence.

 

The second task of the Gdańsk branch is the implementation and adaptation of Graphcore systems to data centers offering artificial intelligence services in the cloud, enabling easy and intuitive access to Graphcore technology. It is in this area that the company will concentrate a significant part of its work and is therefore already recruiting. Graphcore’s R&D center works directly with R&D units, universities, and companies that use AI to solve a wide spectrum of business and scientific problems.

 

– We believe that our technology will become the global standard for machine intelligence computing. The Graphcore IPU will have an impact on more and more industries and sectors with real potential for positive impact on society, from drug discovery to decarbonization – says Nigel Toon, co-founder and CEO of Graphcore. A Paweł Pieczul, Chief Accounting Officer engineering at Graphcore Poland adds: A wide range of skills possessed and developed by specialists in Gdansk and Poland in general, allow Graphcore to hand over many of the company’s most important projects to the local team. Our presence in the Tri-City for high-class IT specialists means the opportunity to participate in advanced projects on a global scale. Many of them have completed extremely demanding tasks so far, and yet they feel a lot of excitement about the opportunity to participate in the projects that our R&D center is working on.

 

The British company has moved into an office on the 30th floor of the highest building in northern Poland, Olivia Star. From its windows there is a 360° panorama of the entire Tri-City. Its employees can therefore work with a view of the Bay of Gdańsk as well as the Tri-City Landscape Park full of forested hills. The office is located just two floors below the public observation deck, located 130 meters above the ground. At the same time, at the foot of the building, there is an exotic Olivia Garden, which is filled with 3 thousand plants from five continents, reaching up to 11 meters in height.

“As Olivia, we are aware that by inviting such Residents as Graphcore, we are taking a real part in creating a hub of smart specialisations in Gdańsk,” says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Centre. The ecosystem of innovative companies in Olivia, which has been created for years, has so far been built by companies such as Amazon, which is developing its Alexa text-to-speech project, or Nethansa, which is developing models and optimization algorithms for sales channel management systems in the e-commerce industry, will be strengthened by one of the most innovative companies in the world. The Graphcore R&D Centre is a great opportunity for Pomeranian companies and research centres to develop cooperation, for experts to develop their competences, but at the same time to confirm that the so-called “Graphcore” is a great opportunity for Pomeranian companies and research centres. The talent pool in the Tri-City is really high and attracts the best leading innovators from all over the world, creating jobs of the highest quality.