About

We are an organization that has been working for years to promote education, culture, and social integration, leveraging the potential of the Oder River and its extraordinary landscape. Our goal is to build bridges between people, cultures, and traditions, combining local heritage with modern forms of expression.

Our idea

The river as inspiration

For centuries, the Oder River has been a place of trade exchange, cultural meetings, and community gatherings. Unfortunately, many of these traditions have faded away, and residents often lack knowledge of their roots. We want to change that by creating a space where participants can learn about the region’s history, local traditions, and their impact on contemporary identity. Our program also includes workshops on ancient rafting and shipbuilding practices—unique topics that have almost been forgotten along the Oder River.

Media – the contemporary language of expression

We believe that new media, such as reportage, podcasts, and documentary films, are universal tools of communication. Participants in our gatherings will work in modern studios—audio, photo-video, and IT—to create their own artistic projects. Through this, they will not only learn local stories but also gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies, learning how to merge tradition with modernity.

Our experience

In addition to education, we focus on integration. Participants will have the opportunity to use local sports infrastructure, take part in ceramic workshops, traditional bread baking, or visit local vineyards. We also want to show them unique places, such as the cable ferry in Pomorsko or the river port in Cigacice. This is a chance to disconnect from the digital world and experience the beauty of traditional river life.

Our goal is to create a space where history and modernity meet in dialogue, and participants will gain skills that allow them to better understand and shape the world around them.

As part of the International Meeting House, we have planned three modern studios:

Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Twórczych Kod_Krowa

We are a team of passionate individuals who have been working since 2003 to build a strong civil society. Our educational projects create a space where tradition meets modernity, and riverside communities can draw inspiration from the richness that the Oder River—full of history, culture, and nature—offers.

In 2012, we established the Folk University “Rejs Laboratory,” which operates in the Grundtvigian spirit. Our idea is education and integration through travel. Over the past two years, we have visited 9 towns in 3 provinces, engaging 150 people in courses and workshops during 30-day cruises. We are proud to be part of the Nationwide Network of Folk Universities since 2022, which further strengthens our mission.

What do we do?

• Riverside Folk University – We educate from aboard a ship, traveling through rural areas of Lubusz, Lower Silesia, and Greater Poland provinces. We create workshops, train local leaders, develop educational cruises, and build spaces for dialogue.
• Rejs Laboratory – Since 2013, we have been organizing film and photography workshops in small riverside towns. Participants not only learn to work with cameras, but also discover local stories, creating their own documentary films.
• Volunteer on Board – For 12 years, we have been inviting young people aged 15-30 on our cruises. Together, we create the crew—volunteers assist with seamanship tasks, project promotion, and daily duties.
• International Collaboration – We participate in international projects, such as study visits in Oslo and cooperation with the University of London, where we explore cultural and social aspects of life along the river.
• Cross-border Initiatives – We collaborate with organizations like Kulturzug and neue amerika Slubfurt, developing projects that connect border regions in a European spirit.

Our facilities

We have three floating units that support the activities of the Riverside Folk University:

• Koszarka “Ana” (Cultural Ship) – Our largest vessel, with a surface area of 200 m² spread over two levels. The ship features lecture halls, sleeping cabins, a kitchen, and sanitary facilities, ensuring comfort for about 20 people. Equipped with a conference room, projector, screen, and sound system, “Ana” underwent a shipyard renovation in 2021 and is ready for operation for the next 20 years.
• Flatboat – Used for transporting 12 people, it has a small kitchen area and two sleeping cabins.
• Inspection Motorboat “Dana” – Equipped with two sleeping cabins, it serves as logistical support during study and educational trips.

The association rents a section of the Oder River shoreline in Cigacice and collaborates with Cigacice Port, utilizing its infrastructure.

Additionally, we have two Mongolian yurt tents, each with a diameter of 8 m, which we set up at ports as mobile lecture halls. For educational activities, we also use modern digital equipment, such as cameras, projectors, computers, and post-production software.

Want to learn more? Hop aboard! 🚢