Initiatives
We create projects that help prevent burnout, taking a holistic approach that strengthens relationships, supports mental health, and uses technology to ease the workload. Current initiatives include Lead N’GO, a support and development group for female NGO leaders; Mokuteki, coaching for people experiencing the impacts of war; and educational activities at the POLIN Museum. Working with partners in Poland and abroad, we show that change is possible at every level — from individuals to entire organizations.
REFLOW
REFLOW is a test created especially for NGO employees. It helps you reflect on your burnout risk, recognize the signs of overload and better understand what weakens your well-being at work. The tool takes into account not only individual symptoms, but also systemic sources of burnout in the team, the organization and umbrella organizations as well as the relationships between them.
POLIN
In 2025, we started working together with the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews – we are carrying out a program of empowerment and educational activities for the team. A series of activities, preceded by an assessment of the employees’ needs, will help take care of their wellbeing and balance as well as prevent professional burnout.
Culture Compass
Culture Compass (Kompas Kultury) is a development program for freelancers working in culture and the arts in Warsaw. During the series of coaching sessions, the participants strengthened their competencies and prepared themselves for working together with cultural institutions. The project is a cooperation between the Culture Shock Foundation and the Old Town Cultural Centre (Staromiejski Dom Kultury) in Warsaw.
Mokuteki
Mokuteki is a response to the needs of leaders of humanitarian, aid, and human rights organizations in Ukraine. A group of specialists who have completed our training program provides support to them during individual coaching sessions.
Lead N'GO
Lead N’GO offers a space for self-development and mutual support for female leaders of social organizations. Initiated by Paulina Jędrzejewska, CEO of Culture Shock FOundation, it in autumn 2024, it is driven by the need for sincere conversations about challenges connected to leadership and building sisterhood in the third sector.
Oxygen Consortium
Oxygen Consortium is an international agreement between organizations working for human rights and civil society. It aims to build resilient communities and provide individuals engaged in social issues with safe working conditions.
Let It Work
Let it Work was a multi-dimensional support program for third-sector organizations and activists, delivered by our Foundation between 2021 and 2024. Through an online platform, we provided educational materials and practical tools addressing organizational culture challenges (management, communication, and mental wellbeing) that increase burnout risk.
Burnout Aid
The Burnout Aid program is an international initiative of three organizations: Culture Shock Foundation (Poland), Common Zone (Croatia), and City of Women (Slovenia). Our goal is to prevent professional and activist burnout of NGO employees.
