For the last 10 years, Grupa LOTOS, together with its partner the Polish Skiing Association,
has run one of the widest-ranging projects in the area of sports education – the National Ski
Jumping Development Programme, 'In Search for the Champion's Successors'. The
programme's main objective is to support young athletes practising ski-jumping and to
discover the finest Polish ski-jumping talents.
Till the end of 2013, more than 800 pieces of skiing equipment (skis complete with bindings, suits, ski-
jumping boots, and helmets) were given to the most talented young ski jumpers. One of the talents
discovered through the ‘In Search for the Champion’s Successors’ programme is Kamil Stoch, double gold
medalist of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, winner of multiple World Cup competitions and Polish
Champion, who is also the Ambassador of the Programme. Other talented ski-jumpers who got support
through the Programme include Jakub Wolny (Individual and Team World Junior Champion), and Klemens
Murańka, Aleksander Zniszczoł and Krzysztof Biegun – Team World Junior Champions.
Another field of the Company's activities supporting young sportsmen is our work with youth groups
practising with the Lechia Gdańsk Football Academy. In 2012, the Company and the Academy jointly
launched the ‘White and Green Future with LOTOS’ programme. Ultimately, the programme will cover a
total of 3,000 children from 13 Academy’s branches outside Gdańsk, at locations across Pomerania and the
neighbouring provinces. Till the end of 2013, 10 regional branches were opened, which, together with the
Gdańsk central branch, look after 1,800 children aged 6-14. Around 70 trainers work under the programme,
using a comprehensive training programme developed by the Lechia Gdańsk Football Academy. The children
are monitored through the Junior Database, where all information about each participant and about the
teams they represent is gathered.
In 2013, we continued our support of the training of girls basketball teams at the Gdynia Basketball Society
(GTK). A total of around 300 young basketballers practise with the GTK, who won the Polish U-18 National
Championship in 2013. We also cooperated with the Wybrzeże Gdańsk Speedway Club Association,
which trains children and youth. The aim of the Speedway Youth School is to develop young riders to join
the first team of GKS Wybrzeże – the LOTOS Wybrzeże Gdańsk club. One of the beneficiaries is Krystian
Pieszczek, called the hope of Gdańsk speedway and winner of the Brown Helmet in 2013. Additionally, we
acted as the main sponsor of the Gdańsk Sailing Club, which promotes water sports among large groups of
children and youths representing different sailing and windsurfing classes.
Protection of the environment and ecology
As our refinery is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, many of our initiatives are related to the protection of
its resources. Our partners include: the Foundation for the Development of Gdańsk University (FRUG)
and the Marine Station of the University’s Institute of Oceanography (IOUG) in Hel. Together with these
institutions, we have implemented projects, under the name of the 'LOTOS Protects the Baltic Sea’s Wildlife',
aimed at protecting the natural riches of the Baltic Sea. Another programme we pursue in the areas of great
natural value NATURA 2000, together with the Kuling Waterbird Research Group, the Ornithological Station
at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Association of
Sobieszewo Island Lovers, is the long-term 'Chronimy NATURĘ na Wyspie Sobieszewskiej' (Protect the
Wildlife of the Sobieszewo Island) programme.
The 'LOTOS Protects the Baltic Sea’s Wildlife' programme
Grupa LOTOS cooperates with the FRUG Foundation and the IOUG Marine Station on protection of, research
on and communication about the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. The IOUG Marine Station conducts research
projects on the biology and ecology of coastal fish in the Baltic Sea as well as of marine mammals and their
habitats. In 2013, we were involved in actions designed to prevent the extinction of the endangered harbour
porpoise, the only cetaceans permanently inhabiting the Baltic Sea.
The equipment purchased in the course of our cooperation, which already goes back several years, has also
During 5 hours of the Open Day, 5 bus lines did 19 tours on the premises of the Grupa
LOTOS refinery, enabling almost 900 persons to see our facilities.
We provided free-of-charge bus lines, which enabled residents of the neighbouring districts to get to the
refinery itself. During the event, a multitude of attractions were organized for people of all ages. A parade of
uniformed forces cooperating with the Company was held. Also, Kuling Waterbird Research Group and the
Ornithological Station at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, our
partners in the ‘Protect the Wildlife of the Sobieszewo Island’ programme and the 'LOTOS Protects the Baltic
Sea’s Wildlife' programme, presented their activities during the event. The ‘Open Day’ attracted more than
2,000 participants, who were also asked to assess the event in a survey. Their opinions concerning the venue,
the attractiveness of the event’s programme and its date, as well as the quality of the service were all very
good (80% of respondents expressed a positive opinion), and 87% of the respondents felt that the ‘Open Day
at Grupa LOTOS’ met their expectations and they would like to participate again in a similar event organized
by the Company in future.
- Charity initiatives
As part of the ‘Good Neighbour’ programme, we work together with non-governmental organizations,
offering assistance to the neediest in our closest neighbourhood. In 2013, we supported persons under the
care of the Municipal Family Support Centre in the Gdańsk district of Rudniki, ‘Stowarzyszenie Przyjazne
Pomorze’ (‘Friendly Pomerania Association’), which runs a community library in the Gdańsk district of Stogi,
‘Fundacja Pomóż Sobie i Innym’ (‘Help Yourself and Others Foundation’), ‘Stowarzyszenie Pedagogów
Praktyków’ (‘Association of Practising Educators’) and Parafia p.w. Matki Boskiej Bolesnej w Gdańsku (Our
Lady of Dolours Parish in Gdańsk). We co-financed summer and winter holidays for more than 100 children
under the care of these organizations and purchased equipment for rooms where educational activities for
children take place. We also organized Santa Claus gift-giving events for children under the care of these
organizations and in family-type children’s homes. In total, Christmas packages were distributed to 270
children from 13 organizations and children’s homes, including 9 from the Gdańsk area, 2 from Jasło and 2
from Czechowice-Dziedzice.
The ‘Skrzydła z Grupą LOTOS’ (‘Wings with Grupa LOTOS’) Programme
We have adopted a strategic approach to equal opportunity initiatives addressed to talented children at risk
of social exclusion, not only from Pomerania, but also from other regions where the LOTOS Group conducts its
business. This was possible thanks to our participation in the group of strategic partners of the ‘Skrzydła’
(‘Wings’) programme run by Caritas Polska in the years 2013-2013. Under the ‘Skrzydła z Grupą LOTOS’
programme, we have assisted 70 pupils from low-income families in three regions of Poland. ‘Skrzydła’ is a
programme of long-term assistance for pupils of primary, junior high and high schools who, given the
insufficient means of their families, need assistance. Under the programme, the form of assistance can be
tailored to the needs of a child. We have extended assistance to the neediest junior high and high school
pupils from the Gdańsk Province, Jasło County and the Czechowice-Dziedzice Municipality. This assistance is
rendered by the associated ‘Skrzydła na przyszłość’ (‘Wings for the Future’) programme, ensuring equal
opportunities for all children to pursue their plans and ambitions. ‘Skrzydła’ has had a positive influence on its
participants and has helped them achieve their objectives. The pupils covered by the programme have
improved their grades in multiple subjects and their behaviour, and are now more involved in lessons, the
work for the benefit of their schools and their own development.
Sports education programmes
We are also involved in community-oriented sports projects supporting the development of sports skills
among children and youth, to train future generations of sportsmen who would like to join their local or
national teams. We believe that education through sports is also a good way to spend leisure time, educate
young people in the spirit of healthy competition and fair play, and counteract social pathologies.
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Integrated Annual Report 2013 - Grupa LOTOS S.A. Win the Future