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If you’re wondering how to volunteer or get involved without taking your hands off the keyboard, here are some examples. You could be building a web application for people in debt, helping them settle and pay off on preferential terms, or develop a registration system for the charity event Onkobieg. These are some of the projects that our React Developer, Łukasz Kozłowski, has been working on.

We provide Łukasz with the opportunity to help and ask him to pick projects for the #SidnetDonations initiative in September. By his choice, we will support Xmonad project and Open Cages association in Poland.

XMonad

XMonad is a tiling window manager compatible with any computer operating system. XMonad dynamically and automatically organizes app windows across the screen for easy work and content access. It also provides keyboard support, making workflows smoother without using a mouse.

From the developer’s point of view, quick and easy access to multiple open windows is a huge perk. “I would like to contribute to the Xmonad project, as I use it daily, at work and home. I got my work done in no time, and my wrist pain went away when I fully switched to the keyboard and ditched the mouse thanks to the keyboard support feature” sums up Łukasz.

Open Cages association

We frequently support animal shelters and advocacy organizations in our monthly charity action. September is no exception, and thanks to Łukasz, we support the Open Cages association, which has been making efforts to improve the lives of farm animals in Poland for ten years now.

The organization aims to change the ways farm animals are treated and reduce the environmental impact of industrial livestock farming.

“It is a major cause of the looming climate disaster. The behaviors deeply ingrained in our system cause the most damage to the environment” explains Łukasz. “They include the massive amounts of water used to produce fodder, an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and forest clearing to make room for forage production and animal grazing. Not to mention the startling amount of misery that comes with it for 70 billion farm animals and more than a trillion fish.”

Mass farming has an unfathomable negative influence on the environment, which is why systemic improvements would be the most effective. The Open Cages organization came to the same conclusion “This is why I wanted to support it” says Łukasz.” To reach and alleviate the suffering animals, the Open Cages organization executes the idea of effective altruism at the source of the issue.”

As Open Cages is an NGO, every animal lover can support the organization by volunteering, fundraising, or donating. 

These days one can both work far-off and help effectively while being miles away too. Our Frontend Developer, Grzegorz Marszałek, plays it like a pro. Per Grzegorz’s request, this month we double-support the fundraising for Ukraine held by ZARYS Foundation.

“I would like to aid the ZARYS Foundation in their fundraiser for Ukraine. When the news about the war broke, no one could genuinely believe it. We held our fingers crossed for a fast resolution of the conflict. But despite our wishes, the war rages on, threatening the life of the Ukrainian people,” Grzegorz explains.

It has been six months since the war in Ukraine started. Still, every kind of support is appreciated, especially the medical equipment and supplies for the community hospitals and clinics. ZARYS Foundation provides such help, which we support with a double-donation in August.

“The Foundation consults the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to kit out the hospitals operating in Ukraine. It seems apparent that as long as the battles carry on, such help will be indispensable,” sums up Grzegorz. “My contribution to support this fundraiser has also a personal aspect, as two members of my project team live in Ukraine”.

ZARYS Foundation owns the largest warehouse of disposable medical equipment in Central Europe. This perk helps the Foundation to provide and ship the necessary supplies directly to the war zone and also to raise money to ensure continuous delivery. The Foundation operates worldwide, hence it is possible for the contributors to voluntarily support the cause in any currency they find convenient.

In July, we support initiatives that share the same founding principle of unrestricted access—either to source code or to information. This month it is Marcin Szałabski who chooses both the non‑profit and open‑source projects. Marcin is working as a Java Developer in a project for a global e‑commerce company, THG. This is the first time he chooses the projects for #SidnetDonations.

What open‑source and non‑profit projects does Marcin want us to support?

SponsorBlock

SponsorBlock gives users easy access to YouTube content that is free from embedded sponsor segments.

“It is a browser plugin that allows skipping the sponsor spots, intros, and other sponsored breaks in the videos. It compliments the AdBlock extension, which halts the native YT commercials. When used simultaneously, they provide an uninterrupted viewing experience,” Marcin explains.

As an open‑source project, SponsorBlock keeps developing thanks to its community. The users submit sponsor spots to skip. The voted pieces are stored in the extension database, which counts almost 5 million skip segments. They feed the algorithm and train it to improve its accuracy when blocking out unwanted sponsored content. This way users enjoy their favorite videos without commercial breaks.

Kultura Liberalna (Liberal Culture)

Liberal Culture is a non‑profit project brought to life by and for the community of citizens.

“It is an NGO media organization that receives independent funding and is unaffected by politicians. The community warrants its objectivity, merits, and factualism. Liberal Culture focuses on political issues in Poland, minority and women’s rights, and climate change problems. It also promotes democratic and liberal values,” clarifies our developer.

The Liberal Culture weekly journal is available online, but contrary to similar sources, all its content is paywall‑free. Anyone interested in the centric and liberal point of view presented there can easily reach the LC’s vast base of articles, podcasts, and interviews.

Besides the online activity, the Liberal Culture organization publishes books on current politics and culture and organizes events, seminars, and debates.

The war in Ukraine is not as actively discussed in mainstream media and everyday conversations as it was before, but our willingness to help our Ukrainian friends is just as strong as ever. Gabriel Wołynko, a software tester in our team, has followed the steps of others and decided that this month’s donation will fully support the victims of the Russian invasion. Per his wish, we are making a double donation to the Foundation Ukraine, based in Wroclaw.

As an avid gamer, Gabriel spends his afternoons competing in online tournaments against players worldwide, including those from Ukraine. In virtual worlds the actual boundaries and divides are irrelevant. Yet, Gabriel finds it impossible to stay neutral in the wake of recent events in Ukraine. This is why he decided to double his funding for the Foundation Ukraine which supports the integration of Ukrainians who have relocated to Lower Silesia.

“In Ukraine, there is a war going on. People need help, and the Ukrainian army requires basic supplies like first‑aid kits. I recently met a Russian player online. We had a chat, and I quickly realized that the image of the Ukrainian war in Russian media is far from realistic and that Russians don’t question it, believing it to be true. This is solid evidence that the international community should stand for Ukraine and advocate for a quick end of the war and propaganda campaign”, explains Gabriel.

As crucial as providing immediate assistance to the places devastated by the fighting is assisting Ukrainians who try to recover from war abuse far from home. The Foundation Ukraine focuses on the integration of Ukrainians who have relocated to Wrocław and the surrounding area.

Culture and tradition unite people who left their homeland for economic, ideological, or political reasons. They also serve as a foundation for national identity, allowing people to survive even the most trying times in exile. With this in mind, the Foundation hosts cultural and educational events and assists Ukrainian immigrants in learning about local customs and adjusting to a new environment.

Since its establishment in Wrocław in 2013, Foundation Ukraine has established a reputation within the local community. The charity decided to put its social capital to good use by organizing a fundraiser for Ukraine to aid the country in its fight against the aggressor. The charity site allows visitors to donate or request direct assistance for those still in Ukraine. We encourage you to join us and actively support the campaign, just like Gabriel has.

War in Ukraine lasts, and so does our support for Ukrainians affected by it. Wojciech Siewierski–our Full‑Stack Developer and IT Administrator–is yet another Sidnet Team member who won’t contribute to an open‑source venture this time and make a double donation to the Ocalenie Foundation fundraiser.

The media keeps us up‑to‑date with all the traumatic stories about the war in Ukraine. Despite the ongoing fights, Poland is committed to supporting its Ukrainian neighbors, both those that stayed under the fire and the refugees that settled in Poland for shelter.

“In this circumstance, I’d like to contribute as well. Poles are no strangers to blatant violence from neighboring countries. I believe it is difficult for us to stay unconcerned”, explains Wojtek.

It is quite heartening to know that we are participating in this charity marathon thanks to Sidnet employees. This kind of support will still be necessary, even after battles have ceased.

The Ocalenie Foundation, a non‑profit we back in May, helps Ukrainian refugees when they cross the border and stay in Poland.

The scope of the charity’s help to Ukrainians includes the following:

• arrangements for transit and accommodation,
• legal, psychological, and mentorship assistance,
• establishing safe‑haven zones for children at refugee reception centers,
• integration programs for children and youth,
• assistance with job search and home rental,
• material assistance.

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we again won’t contribute to an open‑source venture and make a double donation to the Foundation for Puppies Judyta which rescues dog refugees from Ukraine. It is one of our Full‑Stack Developers, Krzysiek Skarbek, who picked this initiative to support in April.

“Not only do people suffer during wartime, but also the animals. Unfortunately, pets have no chance to help themselves out of this situation”, says Krzysiek. “Judyta foundation is overcrowded with pets taken from the war zone in Ukraine. And more animals in need keep coming”.

The charity’s employees and volunteers look after Ukrainian dogs, they also arrange transportation to the war‑struck areas to bring and save as many pets as possible. 

More dog refugees mean more chores and duties, mainly because the pets are wounded due to war. Some of them also need treatment and recovery due to their age and overall poor health. Judyta foundation does a great deal of work to provide them with proper living conditions, but additional support is needed to cater food, medicine, and accommodation.

To keep everyone up‑to‑date with refugee dog rescue actions, Judyta charity updates its website and Facebook page with daily posts. Besides the heartbreaking dog stories and shelter life situations, the charity also links to numerous fundraisers it runs in order to secure the four-legged pensioners with a better life. 

Currently, the Judyta foundation is collecting funds for two shipping containers that will be converted into a cozy accommodation for the refugee dogs.

As usual, on the 15th day of each month, one of Sidnet’s team members picks an open‑source project and a charity initiative for us to support with a donation. In March we continue to do so, with one exception to that rule due to the current situation in Ukraine. At the request of our Full‑Stack Developer Kamil Głuszak, this time we won’t contribute to an open‑source venture and make a double donation to the Polish Humanitarian Action fundraiser. 

On March 24th we woke up to the new reality, overwhelmed by the reports of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The news about the military attack on the neighboring country was even more alarming for us. One of our remote developers was still living and working in Ukraine at the moment. Currently, our Ukrainian friend and his family are in a safe place we arranged for them in Warsaw.

Within twenty-four hours Polish people responded to this catastrophic situation. Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters received immediate humanitarian aid for their war-torn country. We decided to give our share too. We have contributed with individual subsidies, by supporting the “Hello Girls!” initiative on the occasion of Women’s Day. Today we donate to the Polish Humanitarian Action at the request of Kamil.

“Nothing is as urgent as support for Ukraine at this moment,” explains Kamil, “everything else seems lesser right now.”

Polish Humanitarian Action has been operating in Ukraine since 2014. Currently, it focuses on providing its citizens with food, clothing, health, and hygiene products. PHA also arranged the refugee help hubs at the Polish-Ukrainian border and psycho-social support centers in eastern Ukraine.

To support our Ukrainian friends in need, PHA informs on its activities and day‑to‑day situation via social media.

For several months, our thoughts have been with Ariana, a girl who has a medulloblastoma. She is the one‑year‑old daughter of a cousin of Michał Staszewski, who is responsible for sales in our team. Michał encouraged us to make individual donations and make our #SidnetDonation for February earlier, in January. Today, we can celebrate the fact that together with other donors we managed to achieve the fundraiser goal and the girl has already started treatment.

In February, the recipients of our donations (including Ariana) are chosen by Piotrek Zieliński, our Full‑Stack Developer who is always ready to discover new technologies.

NestJS

A back‑end JavaScript framework developed in Poland as a modern alternative to the Node.js—Express framework. It combines the concepts of object-oriented, functional, and functional reactive programming.

‘NestJS is built around TypeScript, dependency injection, and modularity. These notions are associated for example with Angular. Someone who does not know these terms may need more time to start working with Nest, but these concepts are definitely worth exploring,’ says Piotrek.

Like Angular, NestJS imposes an application architecture that makes it easier to write scalable, maintainable, and testable code.

Ariana Wasiak (ZOBACZ MNIE Foundation beneficiary)

The story of Ariana—a one-year-old girl with a brain stem tumor—has touched so many people that in less than two months they managed to raise over $2 million (!) for treatment in the United States. Ever since the diagnosis was made in December, our little fighter has undergone 8 operations and is now receiving chemotherapy.

‘I can’t even imagine what the parents of 11‑month‑old Ariana felt when they heard the diagnosis: malignant tumor. I’m happy that we contributed to the success of the fundraiser for a treatment which could not be administered in Poland,’ says our programmer.

The fundraiser is over, but restoring the girl’s health entails additional unplanned costs, such as the replacement of a valve. The account number and KRS (National Court Register) number needed to donate 1% of your tax can be found on the website of the ZOBACZ MNIE Foundation.

New year’s edition of the #SidnetDonations initiative reminds us in a painful way of being aware and reacting before it’s too late.

This month’s selection of open‑source and non‑profit projects has been made by Mariusz Różański. He’s a Lead Developer based in Toruń and working on projects for our British clients: THG and UK2, belonging to the same group.

Strapi

An open-source headless CMS that allows you to create websites with the separation of the front-end and back-end layers. It works with different types of databases (non‑relational, relational). CMS can be easily integrated with the most popular JavaScript frameworks, such as React, Angular, Vue, but developers can also create their own interfaces.

Which of the Strapi features are particularly useful for Mariusz?

• Intuitiveness. The CMS is clear and easy to use.
• Flexibility. Strapi allows developers to use many non-standard components on the website, and easily create new ones by themselves.
• Developer‑centric. The software offers a rich base of elements ready to use, that significantly speed up work in harmony with the ‘developer‑first’ principle.

“I had the opportunity to use Strapi for commercial projects and I must admit that I had a great time working with it, and most importantly, the customers are very satisfied with the effects,” says Mariusz.

Hospicjum Światło (Light Hospice) Association

Our January donation wasn’t meant to be received by the association in Toruń as a whole. It was intended for one of its beneficiaries, Maciej Kowalczyk—a longtime hospice volunteer and a favorite hairdresser of Mariusz’s wife. Sadly, Maciej passed away at the beginning of this year before we had a chance to show him our support and encourage others to do it.

“Although we did not have a chance to support Maciek and his relatives in their struggle with the disease under the #SidnetDonations initiative, many chronically ill people are still under the care of the association, for whom our help will be worth its weight in gold. That is why I decided to choose this organization,” says our developer.

The main goal of the Light Hospice Association is to care for terminally ill residents and their families. Hospice volunteers improve the quality of life of ill and dependent patients. They do it in place and through free home visits of medical guardians, physiotherapists, and psychologists.

At Sidnet, we help on a daily basis, not only on special occasions. In December, we carry on with this practice and support the projects chosen by Wojtek Wąsik. Wojtek has been a member of our team for over 4 years now as a Senior Full‑Stack Developer and is currently working on a project for our British e‑commerce client, THG. It is not the first time that Wojtek takes the opportunity to select the projects to support as part of the #SidnetDonations initiative. And again, his choice was very personal.

Take a look at open‑source and charity projects that will receive financial support this month thanks to Wojtek’s choices.

PHP Foundation

The core mission of the newly established foundation is to modernize one of the most popular programming languages—PHP—which is the base for over 78% of all websites.

Why did Wojtek decide to endow this particular project? “It is the very first programming language I have learned. It was over 18 years ago, and I have been using it ever since. I am glad that PHP has a chance to be given a new life”, explains our developer.

The establishment of the PHP foundation was rushed by the “bus factor”. After 10 years of developing the language core, Nikita Popov—a key PHP developer, has decided to focus on a different project, the development of the LLVM compiler.  

In the first two years of its operation, the Foundation aims to create regular job positions for the language core developers and provide them with competitive pay financed by donations.

Magda Rejman (The Children’s Future Foundation beneficiary)

The charity chosen by Wojciech to receive our financial aid is fundraising for the treatment of 13‑year‑old Magda Rejman, who is struggling with the health consequences of type C lymphoblastic leukemia.

The decision to support the girl is very personal to Wojtek. “Magda is my cousin’s daughter”, explains our developer.

Currently, the disease is in remission. Magda is slowly recovering from the illness, but she still requires constant medical care, including immunity‑supporting drugs and costly rehabilitation. In order to arrange the necessary help and funds, Magda joined The Children’s Future Foundation a few years ago and still remains under its care. At the moment, the Foundation helps 450 children in need of constant medical assistance.

If you wonder how you can support the Foundation, here’s what you can do:

• Join the volunteers coordinating the fundraisers.
• Make a donation.
• Run your own fundraiser.
• Take part in activities held by the Foundation, such as collecting plastic bottle caps.
• Talk with your employers about how they can support the Foundation.
• Take part in run races organized by a Foundation’s charity running team.