About us

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Association for the Development of Cooperatives and Local Entrepreneurship WAMA-COOP was established in 1999 as a result of the initiative of cooperative members in the Warmia and Mazury Voivodeship. The association was founded following the example of Swedish cooperative development agencies. At the start of its operation WAMA-COOP was provided with technical assistance of the Swedish cooperative activists under the project carried out together with KF Project Center and financed by the Olof Palme Foundation.

In the course of our long-lasting activity we have carried out a number of projects as a result of which we have achieved:

  • the development of tools for substantive and financial support for the process of creation of social businesses;
  • an increase in the level of competitiveness of commercial cooperatives by means of specialised trainings for staff and management teams;
  • organisation of the International School of Social Entrepreneurship as well as eight editions of regional workshops for the leaders of social entrepreneurship under the EQUAL Community Initiative;
  • professional activation of people with lasting unemployment by means of creating founding groups of social businesses;
  • cooperation with regional authorities and creation of local partnerships for the development of social economy;
  • workshops for business-oriented youth and support for youth initiatives.

We are leaders in the process of promotion of social economy and the co-authors of the principles of the support system for social economy, which currently functions in Poland as the Support Centres of Social Economy.

We also specialise in audits and analyses, practical workshops, coaching, training, business consultancy services and the creation of projects and developmental strategies for the needs of both local and business communities.

We ensure the highest quality of services based on accreditations granted to us and quality standards implemented by our organisation:

accreditation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy with regard to High Quality Support Centre of Social Economy (AKSES);

SUS 2.0 accreditation – Standard of Training and Development Services of the Polish Chamber of Training Institutions (DEKRA/SUS/000136).

It is our mission to continuously improve and support the development of entities and people we are so lucky to cooperate with. We are constantly adapting to the changes in the market by preparing training in accordance with the current needs.

For many years we have been a reliable partner and organiser of training and development services, which has been confirmed by a number of distinctions and positive feedback regarding our effective solutions and exemplary execution of tasks, including:

  • 2009 – a distinction awarded by the Minister of Labour and Social Policy in the competition „Good Practice of Active Forms of Support” for effective solutions in the implementation of tasks in the area of Support Centre of Social Cooperation –local entrepreneurship development partner.
  • 2014 – a thank you letter from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Deputy Minister of the State Treasury for active promotion of ideas and the spirit of entrepreneurship in the local community and for the involvement and contribution in the development of the Polish economy.
  • 2017 – the award of the Marshall of the Warmia and Mazury Voivodeship to the Team of WAMA-COOP for exceptional achievements in the field of social support and integration.

We cooperate with academic centres, especially with the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. We successfully implement training and counselling projects in cooperation with experts in the field of entrepreneurship and social economy both in Poland and abroad.

We look forward to our future cooperation.

Dariusz Węgierski - Prezes Zarządu Stowarzyszenia WAMA-COOP

Dariusz Węgierski
Chairman of the Association’s Board

Education:
Master of Management Economics (University of Warmia and Mazury) many years of business experience gained in managerial positions

Powers and qualifications:

  • a cooperative lustrator at the National Co-operative Council;
  • university lecturer;
  • expert in the field of entrepreneurship and social economy;
  • member of the Team for the implementation and promotion of the social economy in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship;
  • member of the Team for the development of a regional action plan for the promotion and dissemination of the social economy in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship;
  • member of the Municipal Employment Council in Olsztyn;
  • coordinator of many projects co-financed from national funds and the European Union.
Remigiusz Dobkowski

Remigiusz Dobkowski
Member of the Association’s Board

Education:
Master of Business Economics (Ruar and Technical Academy in Olsztyn), many years of business experience gained in managerial positions

Powers and qualifications:

  • university lecturer,
    expert in the field of entrepreneurship and social economy;
  • member of the National Committee of Social Economy;
  • member of the anti-poverty group at the Ombudsman;
  • member of the parliamentary group on social economy, Parliament of the Republic of Poland;
  • member of the Council of the Knowledge Center on the European Union.

For professional and social activity, he is awarded state decorations, the Gold and Bronze Cross of Merit, the badge „Distinguished for Warmia and Mazury” and „Deserving Cultural Activist”

Maciej Sztabiński 
Member of the Association’s Board

He has always been associated with Warmia, a resident of Olsztyn and a graduate of the University of Warmia and Mazury. Postgraduate studies in finance and banking, and property valuation. Professional experience gained in England, Norway and Poland. Founder and member of the WAMA-COOP Association since 1999.

From 1999 he was associated with the SKOK movement. Organizer and manager of the structures of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions in the Warmian-Masurian and Mazovian Voivodships.

In 2009 he was awarded the Bronze Badge – for Merit for Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions. In his professional work and social activities he always tries to be close to people and their affairs. Passionate for the running, good books and new technologies.

wamacoop@wamacoop.pl

tel. : +48 89 533 84 05
fax : +48 89 526 43 66

ul. Mickiewicza 21/23, pok. 305
10-508 Olsztyn