Category: News

Maltese Christmas Wafer at Olivia Centre. Become a volunteer!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On December 1, 2025, Olivia Centre will host a special event – the Maltese Christmas Wafer  (Opłatek Maltański) –  marking the 24th edition of this festive gathering and the fifth time it will take place in Gdańsk, on the highest floors of Olivia Star. Each year, the event brings together several hundred invited guests. The organization of this exceptional celebration is an initiative of the Polish Association of the Knights of Malta.

 

The Order of Malta: over 860 years of tradition and over 100 years of helping those
The Order of Malta began its mission in 1154. In Poland, it has been providing aid to those in need for over 100 years through the Polish Association of the Knights of Malta. As part of its charitable work, numerous initiatives are organized – among them one of the most significant, the Maltese Christmas Wafer, which in 2025 celebrates its 24th anniversary.

 

The Maltese Wafer: History and Purpose
Malta from Kraków, with the support of His Eminence Cardinal Franciszek Macharski. Each year, the event brings together thousands of people in the spirit of Christmas, offering moments of joy, a sense of community, and material support to those facing difficult life circumstances.

 

This year’s edition
In 2025, the Maltese Christmas Wafer will take place in over 30 towns and cities across Poland. In addition to traditional Christmas Eve gift packages containing toys for children, food products, and personal care items, participants will receive emotional support. The initiative focuses not only on material aid but, above all, on shared time together — bringing companionship to those who are lonely or in need during the festive season. One of its most important aspects is creating a truly special atmosphere. For many guests, it is not just a Christmas Eve dinner, but also a chance to pause, breathe, and step away from everyday challenges. In Gdańsk, it also offers the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views from the 34th floor of Olivia Star — the tallest building in Pomerania.

 

At the Christmas Eve table in Olivia, families with children, seniors, individuals living alone, and people with disabilities will once again gather together. The table will be filled with traditional holiday dishes, served to the sound of carols. It is a time spent in warmth and togetherness — filled with conversation, celebration, and a sense of community.

The Tri-City edition of the Maltese Christmas Wafer will take place on December 1, 2025, on the 34th floor of Olivia Star. The event will host several hundred guests in need from Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot. Olivia Centre will also welcome, among others, the Mayors of Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot, as well as His Excellency, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk.

 

Become a Volunteer!
It is only thanks to the incredible dedication of our Volunteers that we can create such a special event — one that fills the Tri-City with kindness, festive warmth, and joy.
If you’d like to be part of this Christmas gathering and join as a Volunteer, please contact Monika Tarnowska, Coordinator of the Maltese Christmas Wafer in the Tri-City.

 

Preliminary Volunteer Schedule

Friday, November 28 – Transport to Olivia Star
Deliveries of equipment and gifts will arrive from various locations.
Help will be needed with loading and unloading.

Sunday, November 30 – Gift Packing
Location: Olivia Star

Two volunteer groups:

  • Group 1 (conceptual) – from 11:00 a.m.
    Preparation of workstations and sorting of gifts.

  • Group 2 (packing) – from 1:00 p.m.
    Packing of gift boxes and preparing them for distribution to event participants.

 

Monday, December 1 – Event Day
Start: 11:00 a.m., Olivia Star
This is the moment when we come together to brighten the day with smiles, energy, and heart.

 

Become a Donor!

The organization of the event in the Tri-City would not be possible without the support of Sponsors and Donors who make it possible to prepare Christmas Eve meals and gift packages for invited guests. If you’d like to become a Donor, please contact Monika Tarnowska, Coordinator of the Maltese Christmas Wafer in the Tri-City.

 

Contact for Volunteers and Donors:
Monika Tarnowska
Coordinator of the Maltese Christmas Wafer in the Tri-City
Tel. +48 695 452 102
E-mail: monika.tarnowska@zakonmaltanski.pl

 

Institutional
The initiative is co-financed by the City of Gdańsk and supported by the cities of Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot.

 

How can you help?

Individuals and companies wishing to support the Maltese Christmas Wafer can make contributions to the account of the Polish Knights of Malta Foundation:

PKO Bank Polski SA | Account number: 39 1020 2892 0000 5102 0523 8771
Please include the note: “Maltese Christmas Wafer”

The Maltese Wafer in Olivia 2023, photo: Bogusław Wieczorek, oplatekmaltanski.org

Free consultations at mBank

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On 3-7 November from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m ., we invite you to free consultations on IKE, IKZE at mBank (Olivia Gate A).

 

We know that it is better not to delay a visit to the mechanic when the engine light is on. In the same way, it is not worth postponing thinking about retirement when we get 30% of our current salary from ZUS.

 

We invite you to Olivia Gate A during the opening hours of the facility. You can make an appointment by phone! Tel. 48 789 868 631.

 

 

 

 

 

The winners of the sixth edition of the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget announced

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Intergenerational workshops, a concert, photography workshops, a publication about the Gate House and a flash mob. Such projects will be implemented as part of the sixth edition of the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget, financed by Olivia Centre, Andrzej Stelmasiewicz and Przemysław Skokowski – councillor of the Przymorze Małe district.

 

The Oliwa Neighborhood Budget is a local program to support initiatives that develop Oliwa and Przymorze Małe and strengthen ties between the residents of two districts located at Olivia Centre. The initiative has been consistently implemented since 2020. Its aim is to enable the implementation of projects submitted by residents and for residents. The results of this year’s edition were announced on October 26 during a ceremony in the main hall of Olivia Star.

 

In the sixth edition of the budget, as many as 15 initiatives were submitted. The jurors decided to co-finance or provide comprehensive support for the implementation of 5 projects.

 

The first of them is a concert for the residents of Oliwa and tourists, which will take place in July 2026 in the Adam Mickiewicz Park in Oliwa. The event continues the tradition of summer concerts and responds to the need to participate in culture for people of all ages and with different health abilities. Based on the attendance from previous years, the organizers estimate the attendance of about 250-300 people. The location and time of the concert are conducive to the participation of a wide range of recipients – you can participate in it on a blanket with a pet, in a wheelchair or together with children, who will also get to know live music.

 

The second project that has received funding is a continuation of the initiative implemented so far in other districts of Gdańsk. Project “Time and image of Gdańsk: Olive oil and the Little Littoral” It includes workshops on creating collages from old postcards and combining them with images of everyday life of the inhabitants of both districts. The initiative strengthens intergenerational and intercultural dialogue, drawing on the diverse history of Oliwa and the involvement of participants of different ages, countries and backgrounds. 4 workshops for 50 people are planned. The project is complemented by meetings in other parts of the city, which are ultimately to enable the creation of a historical map of places and their transformations over the years.

 

The project of the Regional Centre for Information and Support of Non-Governmental Organisations “Oil in the Objective of Word and Image” – workshops combining education and creative activity of residents – also received funding. As part of them, classes will be held on creating reportages and photographs documenting the life of the district. The meetings will be led by an experienced journalist, and participants will learn the basics of reportage, preparing questions, collecting materials and building a story. A field workshop on reportage mobile photography is also planned, devoted to the use of a smartphone as a reporting tool, the principles of composition and visual narration, and capturing the daily rhythm of Oliwa.

 

Among the projects selected for implementation there was also a publication on the history of the Gatehouse in printed form, with distribution among residents. The Gatehouse is an important meeting point for the inhabitants of Oliwa and the oldest gem of brick Gothic at Stary Rynek Oliwski Street. The building from the 15th century, despite its location in the center of the district, remains relatively unknown. Enthusiasts of the history of Oliwa were involved in the process of creating the publication: volunteers and seniors, who take part in the classes in the Neighborhood House on a daily basis. For centuries, the building served as the entrance gate to Oliwa for Polish monarchs: Jan III Sobieski, Jan Kazimierz, Sigismund III Vasa, Queen Louise Maria Gonzaga and deputies negotiating the Oliwa Peace after the war with the Swedes. The publication will also present the history of the Cistercians of Oliwa and contemporary initiatives carried out in the building.

 

Thanks to funding from the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget, children from Primary School No. 23 in Oliwa will organize a flash mob as part of the nationwide National Reading. On an October Sunday, the participants of the project will promote Jan Kochanowski’s poetry in Oliwa Park, reading his works to the guests of the park. The event will be recorded and edited into a short film, which will support the promotion of the school and the popularization of the poet’s work.

 

The history of the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget dates back to 2020, when a platform to support local initiatives for the development of Oliwa and Przymorze Małe, two districts of Gdańsk located directly at the Olivia Centre, whose residents very often work in Olivia, was created. “In this way, we want to support all initiatives that are important for residents and contribute to the development of the environment in which we operate” – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Representative of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. „As the largest business center in Poland, we support the development of Gdańsk and Pomerania, offering jobs and space for business development. However, the micro-community of which we are neighbors is equally important to us. We want to help organize extracurricular activities, activation workshops for seniors and people in need, as well as support the development of common spaces with new facilities or elements of small architecture. Experience shows that the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget works well where support is needed on a daily basis, and other sources of financing are sometimes unavailable. We are happy that we can improve the quality of life and be good neighbors to the local community.”

 

The Oliwa Neighborhood Budget is an initiative of Olivia Centre, which has been supported from the beginning by Andrzej Stelmasiewicz, a local entrepreneur, cultural activist and long-time Gdańsk councillor. From 2024 , Przemysław Skokowski, a councillor of the Przymorze Małe district, also a Gdańsk entrepreneur, has also joined the group of partners. The jury deciding on the selection of co-financed initiatives includes: Małgorzata Skwira – headmistress of Primary School No. 35, Tomasz Strug – chairman of the Board of the Oliwa District, Przemysław Skokowski – chairman of the Przymorze Małe District Council, Andrzej Stelmasiewicz – a resident of Oliwa and a social activist, Grzegorz Kidybiński – a member of the board of Olivia Centre and Bogusław Wieczorek – a representative of the board of Olivia Centre for the protection of the Olivia Centre. public relations.

 

Concert in the park with James P. and a hat in the background
Park ON Association

 

The Time and Image of Gdańsk project. Oliwa and Małe Przymorze
Atelier Jerszow Foundation

 

Oil in the lens of words and images
Regional Centre for Information and Support of Non-Governmental Organisations

 

Print a folder about the Gatehouse
Stara Oliwa Association

 

Kochanowski in the park – FLASH MOB action
Primary School No. 23, Children of the World

 

 

TEDxGdańsk University of Technology 2025. Whoever asks, does not err. Welcome!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We support our neighbors! So we cordially invite you to join the inspiring event now November 15 at the Gdańsk University of Technology! Meet visionaries, innovators and passionate people who are changing the world – locally and globally. Here Curiosity meets knowledge, and questions become the beginning of new discoveries. The leitmotif of this year’s edition – “Who asks, does not err” – encourages us to look for answers, challenge patterns and look at the world from different perspectives.

 

Through inspiring lectures and hands-on workshops, we will discover together how courage to ask questions can lead to innovation, building bridges between people and better understanding the reality around us.

 

This year, the organizers have also prepared a unique artistic part, which will refer to the leitmotif and stimulate the imagination in an unconventional way. A dose of inspiration, emotions and reflections await you, which will remain in your memory for a long time.

 

The conference is organized by students of the Interfaculty Scientific Club of Project Management, who combine passion and professionalism, creating a space for sharing ideas and experiences.

 

Don’t hesitate and book your place today! Buy your ticket here

 

www.tedxpolitechnikagdanska.pl

 

Olivia Centre is a partner of the event.

 

Speaker:

 

Tomasz Organek

Musician | Vocalist | Founder of the band Ørganek

Tomasz Organek is a musician, singer and prose writer who graduated in English Philology from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and studied at the Faculty of Jazz and Popular Music at the Academy of Music in Katowice. Leader and founder of the Ørganek band, winner of four Fryderyk Awards, the “Master of Polish Speech VOX POPULI” award and many other prestigious awards. Tomasz will talk about how the album “Save Us Love” is a bridge between the past and the present. How to use music and words to transport people in time to bring closer the history, values and fate of people who lived during the Warsaw Uprising.

 

 

Agnieszka Galarowicz

PhD student at AGH UST | Researcher | Local government official

Agnieszka Galarowicz is a PhD student at the Faculty of Management of AGH UST University of Science and Technology, a researcher and a member of local government. She started as a student who, apart from classes, was looking for space to act and people who want something more. She found it in scientific circles, which quickly became her place of development and inspiration. Although he is a marketer by training, he is developing with passion as a salesperson. In his scientific research, he deals with innovation, entrepreneurship and motivation to take action. It combines science with practice, but above all – with people and their stories.

 

Barbara Klaudel

AI in Healthcare | Forbes 25u25 | TheLion.AI

Barbara Klaudel is an expert in the field of AI, over 5 years ago she founded TheLion.AI – a research group creating artificial intelligence models specializing in the field of healthcare. In 2022, she was awarded the award for the best student at the Gdańsk University of Technology, in the same year she was included in the prestigious Forbes 25 under 25 list. A competition for extraordinary people under the age of 25, who in the future have a chance to influence the development of the Polish economy and society. Currently, Barbara combines her professional career with a teaching mission, conducting classes and lectures at the Gdańsk University of Technology.

 

Damian Stefańczyk

Journalist | Creator of the Damian’s Corner podcast,

Journalist and creator of the Damian’s Corner podcast, in which he breaks down language barriers by conducting inspiring conversations with Polish stars. He has always been inspired by people, and curiosity and the desire to understand other people have become the foundation of his work. Together with a friend, he created a documentary about Poles and the Polish diaspora in South America, touching on the topics of social inequality, social advancement and building a new identity on a foreign continent. At TEDxGdańsk University of Technology, she will share a reflection on what often accompanies us all – stereotypes. He will tell you why it is impossible to break them completely… and why it doesn’t have to be bad at all.

 

Kamil Brycki

Content Creator | Influencer Marketing | Men’s Fashion | Photography and film

An expert with many years of experience in the world of fashion, specializing in classic men’s elegance. Since 2014, she has been helping men find their way in the world of clothing, sharing knowledge about fabric quality, proportions, colors and ethical production. He has built his experience, among m.in other things, as a consultant, stylist and photographer, combining practice with a passion for promoting timeless style. She co-creates the Rewers magazine, which is a space for conversations about fashion, culture and conscious choices. At the same time, he is developing his own social media channels, where he has gathered a large and engaged community. It is there that he emphasizes that clothes are more than just protection against the cold – they are a message that we send to the world and that we can consciously shape.

 

Krzysztof Karwowski

Sino-Techno-Logist | President of SGH Doctoral Student Council | PhD Candidate

A graduate of the Gdańsk University of Technology, a participant of a research scholarship in China, a PhD student in the field of Chinese innovation economics as well as a popularizer of knowledge about Chinese characters, people and technologies. Krzysztof will tell us about the importance of China’s space program – once a third-class country, which now has its own space station. We will find out why it should be observed and not be afraid to imitate space powers to the best of its ability.

 

Michał Leksiński

Traveler | Himalayan climber

Michał Leksiński is a traveler who has visited over 50 countries around the world and climbed on all continents (including Antarctica). Collector of the world’s highest bungee jumps. The creator of the charity project “7 Happy Summits” – the Crown of the Earth for the Happy Kids Foundation – has already conquered 8 of the 9 highest peaks of individual continents in an extended version (including Mt Everest). Author of the book “Project: Expedition #travelmarketing” about combining the world of extreme expeditions with business. A political scientist by education and a graduate of several fields of postgraduate studies in the field of psychology, writing and business intelligence. TEDx speaker. Trainer and lecturer at Collegium Civitas. Lecture title: Every step is an answer. My way to Everest. (this can be an additional title, but you don’t need to use it).

 

Paweł Lęcki

Teacher | Tutor | Columnist | Photographer

Paweł Lęcki is a Polish language teacher with twenty years of experience, tutor, columnist and photographer. She has been working with young people for years, looking closely at how education and the assessment system affect their choices and self-esteem. Lecture title: How do you know why you are in this study? That is, about the pitfalls of exams, assessments and recruitment. During his talk, Paul will ask questions that concern us all: – Why do we make such decisions and not others? – How do school grades and exams shape our choices? “What if a system we trust gives us the wrong data?” It will show how not to lose yourself in the maze of numbers, grades and recruitment thresholds, as well as what the school can (or should) do to help instead of hinder.

 

Paweł Węgier

Mental Coach

Paweł was educated at the Academy of Mental Trainers – a place that develops the idea of mental training and uses knowledge in the field of psychology, sociology and neuroscience to effectively help in personal change and unleash human potential. He currently runs his own business, where he helps people undergo a change in thinking leading to peace through individual consultations, training, webinars and programs for companies. Lecture title: Are your happiness and peace like your feet in the shower? Paul wants to show us that happiness and peace are a state of mind that everyone can achieve, to which everyone has the right and what we should do to consciously create it in ourselves.

 

Radek Hoffman

The Illusionist | Author

Radosław Hoffman is one of the most outstanding Polish illusionists, the first Pole to be a member of the prestigious Magic Circle in London and the vice-president of the Polish Illusions Association. He has been performing on international stages for 18 years, and his experience combines the show of illusion with inspiring stories. He is also the author of three books on mentalism and the creator of the only event in Poland dedicated to mentalism – Mental Day. Radosław will tell you how to discover your own passion, how to nurture it and how it can change your life. His speech will show that it is never too late to find what really drives our actions.

 

 

WELCOME!

 

Buy your ticket here

 

 

 

LeadWell 2025. Leaders who like people

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Two days of intense meetings, filled with conversations about leadership that starts with a person. The next edition of the LeadWell conference has ended at the Olivia Centre – an event that has already managed to gain the position of one of the most important points on the map of the development of the leaders of northern Polish.

 

The program included lectures, discussion panels, workshops and networking. Experts invited to participate talked about the most important challenges of contemporary leaders: from job crafting and self-reflection, through motivating teams and improving the competencies of the future, to creating and implementing strategies. The agenda also included a topic without which it is impossible to talk about effective leadership: healthy sleep and its impact on work efficiency. According to experts, a sleep-deprived leader is up to 30 percent less engaged team.

 

On the LeadWell stage, m.in Sebastian Drzewiecki, Maja Gojtowska, Agata Grenda, Paweł Wujec, Bartek Olejniczak, Piotr Nowosielski, Mateusz Majchrzak and Rocco Spencer performed. The workshop part was led by practitioners who have been professionally accompanying development leaders for years: Maciej Sznitowski, Monika Czupajło, Paweł Korycki, Iwona Borzym and Elżbieta Lewandowska.

 

Although the conference offered a solid portion of knowledge, the organizers unanimously emphasize that the most important thing was to change the perspective. Participants proved that diversity of ways of thinking drives development, and constructive differences of opinion can be more valuable than complete agreement. The shared experience of the presence of hundreds of leaders has also shown that a leader is never alone. The power of leadership lies in relationships, community and everyday decisions that have a real impact on the work environment.

 

LeadWell is an O4 Coworking initiative developed with passion and a lot of courage. The organizers joke that this is a classic “magical” project – no one requires its implementation, and yet it is difficult to imagine the autumn calendar of Olivia Centre events without it. The effort put into the preparations and the enormity of emotions were emphasized by the teams involved in creating the event. The ovations of the participants and positive opinions confirmed that it was worth it – even if the pace of preparations until the last moment resembled a long-distance run.

 

Martyna Czarnobaj-Borowska and Karolina Rymarczyk were responsible for the concept and production of LeadWell, with the great support of the experienced O4 team. The course of the event was also supervised by Marta Moksa – the host and one of the ambassadors of the idea of “leaders who like people”.

 

The atmosphere of the event is best summed up by the words of one of the participants, who described LeadWell as “bigos with chocolate” – an unobvious combination of strong emotions, insightful reflection and specific knowledge. A connection that lasts a long time.

 

The LeadWell conference will return in 2026!

 

Fig. Aleksandra Brzeska

 

 

 

We invite you to the opening of the LEGENDS exhibition and the award ceremony in the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., a unique exhibition will open at Olivia Star. Their works will be presented by retired professors, retired professors and teachers of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. A meeting with such excellent Gdańsk residents is an ideal opportunity to present awards in the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget competition.

 

The exhibition inaugurated with Sunday’s vernissage is entitled LEGENDS, because each of the exhibitors deserves this designation. For many years, they and they created the everyday life and mythology of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.

 

ARTISTS

  • Krystyna Andrzejewska-Marek
  • Kęstut Bereźnicki
  • Roman Gajewski
  • Stanisław Gierada
  • Teresa Klaman
  • Mariusz Kulpa
  • Hugon Lasecki
  • Henryk Lula
  • Jadwiga Okrassa
  • Mieczysław Mieto Olszewski
  • Cezary Paszkowski
  • Janina Rudnicka
  • Janina Stefanowicz-Schmidt
  • Andrzej Śramkiewicz
  • Czesław Tumielewicz

 

The exhibition was organized by the Gdańsk Community Foundation in cooperation with Olivia Centre.

 

Visit the exhibition in the Olivia Star lobby – open until the end of the year! Free admission.

 

The Oliwa Neighborhood Budget is a program initiated by the Olivia Centre, supporting social initiatives of the inhabitants of Oliwa and Przymorze Małe. In 2025, for the sixth time, we will help Neighbors in the implementation of projects serving both districts. Who will receive funding for the implementation of their project this time? Read more about the project…

 

“We can afford peace.” How eight choirs sang an amazing message

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

“To yourself and to you”. Eight choirs joined forces to bring a positive message to the world and sing the words of Katarzyna Nosowska.

 

Great emotions accompanied the choir members in creating a music video and a short documentary with a message to the world about support in times full of fears, uncertainty and hate. Eight choirs from the Tri-City and the surrounding area performed together on stage with a common idea: We wish you and you to be able to afford peace of mind.

 

Katarzyna Nosowska’s song became an inspiration for the preparation of the recording for a reason – the aim of the action was to promote self-care and mental health. The protagonists of the recording are, m.in, people who struggle with health problems on a daily basis, work with the sick, and therefore they set themselves the goal of recording the song and creating a message about the importance of health, peace and emotional balance.

 

Our body remembers stress, and people with Parkinson’s disease know how much harm it can do to our body, so our presence here is also a reminder of how important distance and peace are for our health – says Urszula Wyrwińska from the Park On Association, who organizes workshops for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease on a daily basis.

 

Tomasz Przypaśniak from the Sans Mundus Cantat Festival Choir, taking part in the event, emphasized the importance of good emotions for the people around us: This recording is a good opportunity to remind ourselves that the goodness and peace in the heart that we have is a value that we can also offer to other people. When we carry them within us, we open up to other people, we are able to listen more to their needs, and each of us has these needs: to love and be loved by others.

 

Preparations for the recording and the concert lasted several weeks, which required a lot of discipline and commitment on the part of people who sing in various choirs and remote parts of the Tri-City on a daily basis. Shortly after the performance, one of the organizers, and at the same time a choir member Marta Moksa from Olivia Centre, shared her emotions: Now I feel mainly gratitude and incredible joy that so many singers responded to the appeal, learned and came to record on the patio of Olivia Centre The most beautiful, because musical wishes for everyone who wants to listen. Katarzyna Nosowska wrote wise words and a beautiful song, and we united people who have music in their hearts to carry them once again into the world. I am filled with unique emotions and I am glad that in people singing in choirs there is a sense of mission to come and let the world know that you have to surround yourself with wise people and you have to love.

 

The idea to perform this piece and organize the concert arose among the musicians of the Olivia Centre choir, who encouraged other bands from the Tri-City and the surrounding area to perform together. Eventually, nearly 150 people from choirs associating singing enthusiasts from the following bands stood on the stage:

 

Chór Olivii Centre
Chór Kameralnie
Sopocki Chór Kameralny Continuo
Chór Absolwentów Uczelni Fahrenheita „Non Serio”
Chór Oliwskiego Domu Sąsiedzkiego „Po Sąsiadach”
Stowarzyszenie Chór Lira
Chór Festiwalowy SANS Mundus Cantat
Chór przy Stowarzyszeniu PARK ON

 

The amateur choir members were accompanied by professional musicians: Karolina Krzyżanowska (piano), Hubert Baumann (guitar), Krzysztof Hnatiuk (bass) and Tomasz Hoffman (drums).

 

The artistic director of the event, who also undertook to lead the combined choirs, is Wiktoria Pagieła – the conductor of the Olivia Choir, who combines passion, professionalism and many years of musical experience. Research shows that singing in a group improves mental health, reduces stress, strengthens the sense of belonging and happiness – says Wiktoria Pagieła. Music and making music together allow us to find balance and peace in a busy world, and at the same time connect people across divisions.

 

We at Olivia were not about the stars, but about the message and the effect. I deeply believe that when people see and hear these emotions, these words, this power in the film, they must feel better – emphasizes Marta Moksa. On Friday, those who responded to the appeal and came to sing and those who decided to see our work on the live recording were happier. These 8 choirs are an incredible variety – they are senior choirs, ensembles supporting people with Parkinson’s disease, choirs built around universities or companies. Very large choirs and chamber choirs. A total of 150 people performed on the patio of the Olivia Centre. For me, it’s an amazing action, built from the pure, selfless goodwill of all of us. The essence of the source of happiness.

 

Such events are much more than music – emphasizes Bogusław Wieczorek, Olivia Centre’s Board Representative. It is proof of the power that cooperation brings, sharing passion and passing it on to others. At the same time, we want to give a strong signal that everyone is invited to Olivia and can find something for themselves: both in restaurants, tourist attractions or family attractions, but also during various events, of which nearly three thousand take place in our spaces every year.

 

The Olivia Centre Choir has been operating for seven years and brings together 40 singing enthusiasts who work in various companies located in Olivia Centre, the largest business centre in Poland. The band brings together people from different backgrounds and companies operating in the Olivia Centre, who find time after working hours to develop their talent and enjoy making music together. The choir has performed on numerous stages in the Tri-City, participated in cultural and charity projects, and in 2022 released its debut album “Dobre tony”, containing interpretations of well-known songs from the repertoire of, m.in The Beatles, Eurythmics and Męskie Granie Orkiestra.

 

Meet people of passion! We invite you to watch a short video about the event.

 

 

 

Listen to the whole performance

Olivia Centre with the title of Ace of Investment 2024!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On 21 October, the Olivia Centre in Gdańsk hosted the gala of the “Ace of Business” – a prestigious competition organized by the editors of the “Always Pomerania” daily. The event, which for the fourth time distinguishes entrepreneurial leaders from Pomerania, brought together representatives of business, local government and the world of media.

 

During this year’s edition, the awards were presented in seven categories, recognizing the effectiveness, creativity, social sensitivity and visionary nature of local companies. The winners included, m.in, Mewo, Trefl, Advanced Protection Systems – and Olivia Centre, which received the title of Ace of Investments 2024.

 

The award was received on behalf of Olivia by the President of the Management Board, Maciej Grabski. The jury appreciated his contribution to the development of the urban space of Gdańsk and the consistent construction of a place that combines business, social and cultural functions. Olivia Centre – the largest office complex in Poland – creates a vision of the city of the future: sustainable, inclusive and vibrant all day long. The justification for the award also highlights the implementation of the Olivia Pulse project – a new investment that will introduce residential and hotel functions to the complex, integrating various aspects of urban life even more strongly.

 

All employers’ organizations from the Pomeranian Voivodeship were invited to the competition. 31 companies were nominated in seven categories. A novelty this year was the Ace of Crafts award. It is not accidental – this year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Pomeranian Chamber of Crafts.

 

We congratulate all the winners of this year’s edition and we are glad that Olivia Centre has been included in such an inspiring group of Pomeranian business leaders.

 

Full list of winners

 

Ace of ecology: Mewo as

Social Economy: Zeroban Social Cooperative

Ace of Family Businesses: Watchmaking “Ogrodowicz i Syn”

Ace Investment: Olivia Centre

As New Technologies: Advanced Protection Systems

Ace of Crafts: Bakery-Confectionery AL

Corporate Social Responsibility Ace: Trefl

 

Fig. Karol Makurat | Always Pomerania

More…

“Women’s Strength Is Strength”. Exhibition at Olivia Prime

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

From 20 October, in the lobby of Olivia Prime, you can see a unique photographic exhibition “Women’s Strength”, whose partner is Energa. This is part of a preventive action organized by the editors of Dziennik Bałtycki, reminding how important breast cancer prevention is.

 

The protagonists of the exhibition are 12 extraordinary women who have been diagnosed with “cancer”, but have found the courage and determination to fight for their health and life. Their stories – captured in photographs by Agnieszka Marczak – move, inspire and give hope.

 

The exhibition can be viewed from October 20 to November 6 in the Olivia Prime lobby. On the façade of the Olivia Star building, on the first day of the action, a pink ribbon will appear – a symbol of solidarity and support in the October campaign dedicated to breast cancer prevention.

 

It’s an important reminder that health can’t wait. Early detection of cancer gives a chance for a complete cure, and regular examinations – self-examination, ultrasound or mammography – save lives.

 

Let’s stop for a moment. Let’s get to know the stories of women who won the most difficult fight. Their strength can be an inspiration for all of us.


More on the website of Dziennik Bałtycki

 

See Olivia’s mini-guide “Pinktober 2025. Take care of yourself”

 

Pinktober 2024! Take care of yourself. Take care of your health.

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

For years, October has been recognized worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At this special time, Olivia also takes up topics related to breast cancer prevention.

 

Remember to self-examine your breasts

 

We encourage you, as every year, Dear Ladies, to self-examine your breasts. See how to properly perform the test. And remember that regular examination allows you to detect cancerous changes at an early stage and, consequently, apply effective treatment. The educational film was prepared by the Pink Butterfly Association, a non-profit organization supporting patients treated at the Breast Disease Center of the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk. It was established in November 2019 by the medical staff, patients and friends of the Center. The Association’s mission is to help people suffering from cancer, including breast diseases, at all stages of the disease (from diagnosis, through treatment and convalescence).

Remember about breast ultrasound

 

Breast ultrasound should be a permanent part of every woman’s calendar of preventive examinations. It is assumed that women over 30 should undergo a prophylactic breast ultrasound at least once every two years, and preferably once a year. In women from risk groups (with a family history of breast cancer, diagnosed with genetic mutations that increase the risk of developing the disease, with previous precancerous lesions), it is recommended to undergo more frequent examinations – two or three times a year.

 

Mammogram

 

Mammography is one of the preventive tests performed as part of breast cancer prevention as a screening test. It makes it possible to detect even very small cancerous lesions long before they become palpable. It is recommended for women over 40 years of age. It should be performed regularly, every 2 years, or as directed by your doctor.

 

Do you know about the breast cancer prevention program: mammography?

 

The programme is aimed at women aged 45-74. You can do a mammography test in stationary clinics or in a mobile vehicle that travels to the most remote corners of Polish.

 

Check where to have a mammogram in person (go to “Prevention programs” and select “Breast cancer prevention” from the list).

 

Check when the mobile vehicle will arrive in your town.

 

About mammography.

 

See: NFZ Academy | Practical calendar of preventive examinations

 

What do you know about biopsy?

 

Breast biopsy (fine-needle/core needle) is an examination that allows for precise breast diagnosis. Thanks to the ultrasound examination, the doctor locates the lesion and inserts a needle into it through the skin, which he uses to take a section of tissue from the center of the tumor, needed for further examination. The biopsy is not painful – it is performed under local anaesthesia and the woman does not require hospitalisation afterwards. More about the study…

 

Vacuum assisted core needle biopsy (VAB) is performed on an outpatient basis, i.e. in the treatment room, and no stay in the hospital operating room is necessary. The device consists of a disposable biopsy needle and a device that controls the biopsy process (vacuum assists). A needle is actually a complex disposable device that consists of a rotating blade connected to a container for histopathological material. More on this topic…

 

Medical facilities

 

Breast Disease Clinic of the University Clinical Center

 

The Breast Disease Clinic is intended for patients who have detected a change in their breasts and need advice or have previously been diagnosed with a benign change in the breast that requires regular check-ups. The clinic also accepts healthy patients who want to check their breasts and patients who believe that they may be genetically predisposed to breast cancer. During the first visit, the doctor conducts a detailed interview and then carefully examines the breasts and armpits.

 

Contact:
58 727 05 00
rejestracja.piersi@uck.gda.pl

 

Address:
Building No. 4
, 17
Smoluchowskiego Street, 80-214 Gdańsk

 

Copernicus Regional Oncology Centre

 

In building A of the Provincial Oncology Center, there is a modern center for the diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases – MAMMA CENTRUM according to the standards of the Breast Cancer Unit. It is located at 2 Maria Skłodowska Curie Street. The center conducts follow-up examinations in women at increased risk of breast cancer, ultrasound examinations using Doppler and elastography, classic mammography using a digital mammography, as well as spectral mammography and tomosynthesis. Patients can also count on magnetic resonance imaging, fine needle biopsy under ultrasound, core needle biopsy, stereo biopsy under mammography and ultrasound.

 

Contact:
58 772 39 50, 58 345 21 99
rejestracja.wco@copernicus.gda.pl

 

Address:
Building A
Provincial Oncology Centre in Gdańsk,
2 Maria Skłodowska-Curie Street

 

Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Diseases at the Polish Red Cross Maritime Hospital in Gdynia (Gdynia Oncology Centre)

 

The center is accredited by the Breast Cancer Unit issued by SIS (Senologic International Society). Patients who come under the care of the center are covered by comprehensive and quick diagnostics and coordinated treatment. This means that they are helped in one place by experienced doctors: oncological surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, radiotherapists, pathologists, nurses and technicians. During therapy, you can also use the help of physiotherapists and psychological care. Thanks to this, patients do not have to look for help in several different places. In addition, the treatment is supervised by a coordinator. He or she acts as a guide for the sick person, guiding them through the various stages of therapy. Treatment is tailored to the requirements of the individual patient.

 

Contact:

Oncological
Surgery Clinictel. 5872 60 178 Hotline: 224 800 800

 

Address:

Szpitale Pomorskie sp. z o.o. | Polish Red Cross Maritime Hospital in Gdynia
, Oncology
Clinic, 1
Powstania Styczniowego Street, 81-519 Gdynia

 

 

 

–/ —

 

Did you know?

 

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide (25%) and the leading cause of death (14%), and breast cancer patients account for 36% of women living with cancer. It is estimated that nearly 1.7 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and more than 500,000 die from it. It is a heterogeneous disease in which we distinguish different subtypes.
  • The highest incidence of breast cancer is recorded in industrialized countries (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain). The lowest incidence is in countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. Geographic region is a factor that significantly modifies the risk of breast cancer.
  • In Poland, breast cancer has become one of the biggest threats to premature mortality of women in the last century. Breast cancer also occurs in men, although very rarely. It is estimated that one in the number of cases of breast cancer is breast cancer in men.
  • The risk factors for the development of the disease are complex, but the key factors seem to be those related to the hormonal status of the woman (reproductive factors, age of puberty and menopause, use of hormonal preparations). The incidence of breast cancer increases with age. Cancer is rare among women under 45 years of age, and the majority of cases occur in women over 50 years of age (80% of patients in Poland).
  • A factor that significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer is the presence of a mutation in the BRCA1 gene or the BRCA2 gene. It is estimated that 4-8% of breast cancers may be the result of inherited mutations, the remaining cases are the result of sporadic mutations in somatic cells.
  • Diagnosis and early detection (secondary prophylaxis) based on regular mammography examinations (screening) are of decisive importance in the context of prevention and prevention of the development of advanced breast cancer.

Source: zwrotnikraka.pl