Fundacja Człowiek (Human Foundation Poland), Poland
The Human Foundation is a very small structure made up of a few people gathered around the same ideas. It is an organisation that aims to work on behalf of people excluded and stigmatised because of their ‘mental illness’. In particular, the Foundation reaches out to people endowed with enormous inner potential who, unfortunately, are perceived by most of society through the prism of false stereotypes and are treated as sick people (implicitly dangerous, aggressive) rather than those who are recovering. The idea of the Foundation is to help them and thus increase their chances of returning to an active and dignified life in society – fulfilling social roles, studying or working. Through awareness-raising activities, the Foundation promotes the development of an informed society, healthy lifestyles, mental hygiene, counteracts discrimination, stigmatisation. It initiates, develops and reinforces attitudes aimed at the full participation of people with disabilities, illnesses and those at risk of social exclusion in society, from everyday life, through learning, professional and social activation to access to the goods of science, culture and the arts. Since 2021, the Foundation has been a member of the Human Rights Commission of the MHE, actively participating in its activities. In addition, it carries out advocacy activities at national and European level.