On Sunday, 4th December 2022, the 15th International Charity Fair organised annually by the Association of Spouses of Heads of Diplomatic Missions (SHOM) in Warsaw took place at the Torwar Central Sports Centre in Warsaw. The goal of the event is to collect money for foundations supporting the most needy. Poland’s First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda was the event’s honorary patron.
The 15th International Charity Fair was officially opened by Nadine Schmit, SHOM chairperson and wife of the Luxembourg Ambassador. Mrs Schmit warmly welcomed all the guests, saying:
Our main mission is to raise funds that will benefit all groups of Polish society, be it the elderly, children, women or families in need. Embassies are honoured to share their culture and showcase their traditional products and cuisine. Through this major fundraising event, we bring together a huge variety of cultures to promote harmony and brotherhood between nations. We believe that every person has the right to love, happiness, education, care, shelter, food, medicine, clothing and hope.
Therefore, we warmly invite everyone to visit, enjoy the food and gifts from around the world and make this charitable International Christmas Market a huge success.”
Nadine Schmit also expressed her deep gratitude to Poland’s First Lady, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, for agreeing to be the honorary patron of the event and for supporting the Fair with her presence. The First Lady, like the other guests of the event, purchased an admission ticket, thus contributing to the total amount that was collected and then distributed among 22 public benefit organisations. The First Lady visited the stands organised by the embassies and made small purchases there.
At the national stands organised by the embassies, the guests could buy many interesting and original products from different parts of the world. Among them, artistic products, handicrafts, jewellery, scarves, bags, backpacks, national costumes and original food products. The Christmas market was a great opportunity to buy unique gifts for loved ones for the upcoming holidays. At the Foundation’s stands, which also presented a rich offer, guests could buy interesting Christmas gifts, Christmas tree decorations and decorated Christmas cards. All these beautiful things were made by the Foundation’s charges, people with a big heart.
This year’s Christmas market, similarly to previous years, was very popular. Guests took advantage of the rich offer of the food zone, which included unique national specialties from nearly all over the world. Visitors could taste unique dishes on-site or purchase them to take away.
A great attraction at the Fair was the elaborate international artistic program prepared by Katarzyna Braiter, Charity Coordinator, wife of the titular ambassador, former ambassador to Angola, Central America and Brazil, who also presented the artistic part of the Fair. Artists from Brazil, Armenia, India, Azerbaijan, India, Ukraine, France and Kazakhstan performed. Poland was represented by the Mazowsze band, one of the world’s largest artistic ensembles, which draws on the richness of Polish national dances, songs, chants and customs, as well as the Brass Band from Nadarzyn, which has performed many times on the international stage. Other great artists also performed during the Fair – opera singer Aleksandra Szmyd and Stefano Terrazzino with dancers. There were also professional fashion shows presented by four Polish designers: Kovalowe, Krystian Szymczak, Ewelina Szymańska and Ewa Zbaraszewska. The performance was prepared and directed by Magdalena Rozenfeld with Agnieszka Kozakiewicz. Models from the best Polish modelling agencies looked phenomenal in the creations of these exceptional designers.
The Fair was greatly enjoyed by all participants. The joy of participating and making purchases was even greater because all the funds collected during the Fair were spent on helping those in need, bringing a smile to their faces.
Thanks to the donations, the incredible engagement of 56 embassies, the generosity of donors and sponsors, the huge support of volunteers and the honorary patronage of Poland’s First Lady, as well as Warsaw Trams and the Municipal Bus Company (MZK), which joined the event for the second time promoting it on LCD media screens in Warsaw trams and MZK buses, SHOM collected over PLN 400,000. All proceeds from the Fair will be donated to 22 charitable organisations. About 45,000 people attended the event.
Charitable activities and generosity undoubtedly help make life easier for other people, provide equal opportunities, and open up new, wider development opportunities. Even the humble gestures of sharing what we have, when done together, create great outcomes. This is what happens every year during the Christmas Fair, where representatives of different countries and cultures come together for a common goal.
Compiled by
Ada Krzewicka
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