The University of the Third Age (UTW) in Bolesławiec was the first institution to proactively close its doors because of the epidemic. On 10 March, the rector decided, after consulting the Senior Citizens’ Council, to suspend classes for the safety of the students.
The face-shield distribution campaign was intended to show that senior women and men are responsible for their health and lives and follow safety rules during the epidemic. Therefore, the distribution of the face shields was carefully planned, taking all safety rules into account. It took place in the square in front of the school on Jana Pawła II Street, which houses the UTW; the police were also notified.
“We conducted a telephone campaign and asked the female and male students who wanted to receive a face shield; 130 people signed up,” explains Wiesława Olczyk. “The masks are being handed out at three stations from 8:00 to 11:00. We notified the police as a precaution because, although we are distributing the face shields for three hours, we do not know how many people will come at a given time. We are following all safety rules. There are three stations, with two people serving each, and the stations are divided alphabetically. You have to go to the station representing the letter of your surname,” the head of UTW explains the method of distributing the masks.
The female and male students who came to collect the face shields praised the campaign and jokingly added that the face shields were very flattering.
The action was organized by the following representatives of the City Office: Mayor Piotr Roman, head of the social affairs department Beata Sulska, and Grażyna Reguła. Representing the University of the Third Age: Urszula Pietrzak, Teresa Śmiałkowska, Alicja Kajzer, Danuta Jabłońska, Jadwiga Jasieńków, Elwira Kaczorowska, Krystyna Kuźniarz, Krystyna Plechawska, Maria Wolańska, Jan Śliwiński, Krzysztof Gajewski, Ewa Piotrowska, and Urszula Kuren.