Foundation Emma

EMMA Foundation is a Polish non-governmental organisation founded in 2014. Its name reflects the idea that education has the power to activate people and communities. The Foundation initially operated in the Małopolska region, focusing on the promotion of Polish culture and broadly understood education. Since September 2018, it has also been active in Lower Silesia, with its main operational base in Wrocław

The organisation delivers social and educational projects for children, young people, adults and seniors. Its statutory aims include supporting people at risk of social exclusion, stimulating local creative, artistic and entrepreneurial communities, promoting employment, and supporting the professional activation of people who are unemployed.

A major part of Fundacja EMMA’s work is community development. In Wrocław, the Foundation established its first intergenerational activity centre, creating an accessible space for residents, Foundation-led projects and grassroots initiatives proposed by local community members. Through these activities, EMMA seeks to strengthen social participation, encourage lifelong learning, foster intergenerational integration and respond to local social challenges.

The Foundation also works with public institutions, local governments, schools, NGOs and other partners. Its programme currently includes a variety of local activities, such as bridge clubs, Pilates classes, women’s networking meetings, professional-development workshops, meditation sessions and community gatherings, many of which take place at the DuoSfera Local Community Centre in Wrocław.

&BeyondLab is an initiative associated with EMMA Foundation that expands the Foundation’s engagement with urban innovation, sustainability and future-oriented development. Together, Fundacja EMMA and &BeyondLab acted as partners of Urban Future 2025, a major European event focused on making cities more sustainable, inclusive and liveable, held in Łódź on 21–23 May 2025. This partnership indicates the organisation’s interest in connecting local community work with wider discussions on urban transformation and innovative responses to contemporary social challenges.