Get to know us better
About the Foundation
The Understanding Foundation was established in 2016. The founder was Aleksandra Mykowska – a social psychologist and expert in the field of social media. adult education. Soon after, Monika Śledź-Pacheco – a specialist in writing and project management, Ewelina Laprus – a social media man and organizer of all kinds of events, and Ela Wasil – a business psychologist and content manager joined.
In the initial period, the Foundation dealt exclusively with topics related to multiculturalism and multilingualism among children and adults, promoting communication in the language of the heart and the use of understanding and kindness towards oneself and others. Organizing activities and events for mixed families living in Krakow. However, over time, we became interested in the topic of mental well-being, implementing programs supporting both parents, educators and teachers in building their internal mental resilience, which allows them to react effectively in difficult and stressful situations in everyday life. And since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, we have also been supporting refugee families and their children.
In order for our organization to be able to achieve its mission, we are looking for specialist knowledge, good practices and methods at the highest global level in line with current trends, research and knowledge. We conduct research and evaluation of educational programs ourselves to provide educational materials at the highest level.
The Understanding Foundation creates educational materials, conducts workshops, stationary and remote courses, trainings and classes on topics related to building mental well-being and supporting mental resilience in private and professional life.
Our Mission
Mental well-being
Promoting multilingualism
Family integration
Supporting parents
Our Team
Aleksandra Mykowska
President of the Foundation
Social psychologist (Jagiellonian University), MBA graduate, practitioner of managing teams of several dozen people, implementer of numerous adult education programs in the stationary system, blended learning, e-learning and Development Center processes. She managed the process of organizing and preparing many courses for adults for over 10,000 people, co-author of the original methodology of online teaching, the first research on intrinsic motivation for online learning. Presenter at the EDUCA Berlin conference and other international conferences.
Currently, she is a mother of 2 bilingual daughters, she learns and practices m.in. Attachment Parenting, NVC, Self Reg and other methods of building social-emotional competence and resilience in children. She is interested in psychological aspects of well-being, she likes to scientifically verify psychological hypotheses. She has participated in numerous courses on coping with stress and trauma. She is currently in the process of certification in “Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy”. Her interests currently focus on the use of neuroscience and psychology and the body-based approach in building wellness education programs.
Julia Matuszek
She holds a degree in Sociology and Clinical Psychology from the University of Bath. She gained her professional experience in the United Kingdom, working in crisis intervention centers and as a social care coordinator. She specializes in working in a person-centred and holistic approach, combining psychological knowledge with the practice of systemic support. He believes in the importance of systemic changes, not just an individual approach to mental health problems. In the foundation, she is an assistant for project coordination, supporting the implementation of activities and taking care of the efficient organization and course of initiatives.
Ewelina Laprus
Master of Cultural Studies, spec. Russian Studies at the Jagiellonian University, she also completed postgraduate studies in Humanitarian Aid at the University of Warsaw. Expert for. marketing of the foundation and logistics coordinator and administrative manager. At the local level, it obtains grants for workshops, picnics, trips for families of refugees/migrants/Polish citizens in order to integrate and improve their mental well-being. She is intensively involved in helping war refugees, works for the integration of foreigners and Poles. It organizes and transports humanitarian aid for the inhabitants of the areas affected by hostilities.
Our Experts
Barbara Matyaszek-Szarek
Supervisor of the Excellence in Negotiations® and Excellence in Management® series of development programs. Co-founder of Heuresis, President of the Management Board. Certified trainer, management consultant, author of unique development programs. He participates in the work of the IPSCMI and ACI Advisory Boards. He holds the Certified International Professional Negotiator® (CIPN)® certifications, the Certified International Professional Management Executive® (CIPME),® the Certified Human Resource Management Executive® (CHRME)® HR manager, and the Certified International Professional Training Consultant ® (CIPTC®) trainer. Responsible for building strategies and managing client capital and knowledge capital. He conducts strategic and management consulting projects.
Krystyna Kornas
Certified business trainer, has a psychosocial skills trainer certificate from the Polish Society for the Support of Psychoeducation; certified coach and team coach of the ICF, licensed consultant of Mental Toughness (MTQ48) – a scientific model for testing and developing mental resilience, practitioner of the Points of You method and Rational Behavior Therapy. Holds a career counselor’s license and a certificate Project Manager of the International Project Management Association (IPMA),® Certified International Professional Trainer® (CIPT®) and Certified International Professional Negotiator® (CIPN),® and Certified Human Resource Management Executive® (CHRME).® She specializes in training in the field of HR, soft skills development, stress prevention and development of friendly work environments, focused on management in the Management 3.0 stream, interpersonal communication, team building, and negotiations.
Monika Stutz-Kowalska
Certified trainer of the FamilyLab Polska foundation, implementer of the School for Parents and Educators program. A graduate of Journalism and Social Communication, Social Sciences, Pedagogical Preparation. A psychologist in training.
Financial Statements 2023
Read the 2023 report HERE
Financial Statements 2022
Read the financial statements for 2022 HERE