The Ocice School Council organized a competition for children entitled “Advising the Councillors of Our Commune.” The competition attracted the councillors themselves, some of whom even became generous sponsors. The participants were students from grades VI–VIII, as well as one fifth-grade student. The students’ task was to develop three topics:
1. Are you happy that you live in this particular village?
2. Imagine that you are the village head of Ocice and, at a residents’ meeting, you discuss its problems.
3. After an absence of ten years, you return to Ocice as a journalist to write an article about your village.
Fifteen entries were submitted. The committee consisted of: Stanisława Potocka (village head of Ocice), Halina Góra (School Council), parish priest Edmund Tkocz, Franciszek Popek (director of GOKiS), Kazimierz Turek (Commune Council), Andrzej Ostrowski (School Council), and Zbigniew Kukawski (representative of the school community). The entire competition was supervised by the school’s director, Cezariusz Rudyk.
The following students received awards:
First place: Agnieszka Ostrowska (eighth grade); second place: Kinga Oleksiak (eighth grade); third place: Łukasz Struś (seventh grade); fourth place: Barbara Bram (eighth grade). Honorable mentions went to Justyna Berny from fifth grade and Daniel Oślak from seventh grade.
The third topic proved the most popular. In one of the reports, a student writes: “...My village has changed a lot. There is no longer the kindergarten I attended, nor the second shop where I bought my favorite sweets. A horse farm, new residents...” have appeared in their place. The “journalists” realize that change requires a great deal of work from the residents and the village head. The young people see the need to renovate historic buildings and restore them to their former glory. Jadzia from sixth grade writes: “...Together with my brother Adam, we went on a little excursion. Adam suggested that we visit the palace first. I learned that it had been rebuilt... I simply could not believe my eyes. ...The roof was supported by beautiful maidens—nymphs. The gutters were shaped like dragons with enormously long tails. The second floor was supported by beams carved in the shape of climbing vines. Inside there were chests of drawers, mirrors, great clocks...” Jacek took on a difficult task. He would like to be the village head. It is a great responsibility and hard work, but also an honor (that is exactly what he writes). He pointed out that the village has many historic buildings. At the beginning of his deliberations, he states that he would turn to the Commune Council for money. However, he soon abandons this intention. The commune simply will not have the money. Nor will the agricultural cooperative... In this situation, Jacek decides to convene a village meeting, and the residents might perhaps help him find sponsors. With the money collected, he would buy building materials and ask the residents to take an active part in the undertaking. He proposes turning the palace into a “good hotel” with a restaurant, in addition to a museum. He believes that in this way he will raise more money and only then “spread his wings”: he will rebuild the Evangelical church, another historic building. He will organize matches, dances, and other events to raise further funds. He will build a gymnasium, equip the school with the necessary teaching aids, and create a proper sports field. “Everyone who lives here would be proud of their village.” And of its village head (Jacek), too.
For Basia, ecology and environmental protection are not merely fine-sounding slogans. “As village head, I would first take care of clearing the area of various kinds of waste,” because before long “the trees will be stripped of their leaves, and rotten trunks will break and resemble huge monsters.” Basia believes that the environment is polluted because of human thoughtlessness: in the forest, one can find everything from a can of “Cola” to all kinds of scrap metal. Another problem, according to Basia, is poaching. As village head, Basia would punish poachers severely. Residents not only exterminate wildlife, but also cut down trees. “Being a village head is not easy... but to achieve the goal, you need not just one person, but many...”
“To live, not die, in such a village” is the title of Agnieszka’s entry, which won first prize. She writes about an ecological village. That village turned out to be Kraszowice, the village Agnieszka left long ago. The village has changed greatly. “As I entered Kraszowice, instead of weeds and dried grass on both sides of the road, I noticed thickets resembling a willow forest. On the left I saw a long building, like a farm; on the right, long greenhouses; tiny pine trees grew on the hills. The air that entered the car was balsamically pure...” The village head, our journalist’s former schoolmate, reports that all activities are focused on ecology. The plants do not pollute the environment, provide employment for residents, and reduce unemployment. The money comes, among other sources, from tourists who visit Kraszowice. The journalist marvels: “...within these ten years, thanks to its residents, the small village has transformed into a thriving suburban center, a place where life is truly worth living. Come and see for yourselves...”
The students dream; the authorities read, assess, and draw conclusions. We would like their dreams to become reality. So let us wait these ten years—it is not long at all.