Various manifestations of child's loneliness in familiy have been discussed upon on Wednesday 29th October during the 2nd Wieliczka Conference organised by the Wieliczka Municipality.

Among the invited guests one could find the distinguished experts on the issue such as dr Krystyna Kluzowa – research worker in the Social Studies Institute of the Jagiellonian University, dr Wanda Półtawska - many years' director of the Family Theology Institute of the Polish Theology Academy, Teresa Król - the vice editor-in-chief of the Catholic Teachers and Guardians' "The Guardian" Monthly, Ryszard Izdebski - director of the Cracow Psychotherapy Institute, Beata Kicińska – pedagogue, therapist and dr Małgorzata Łamacz.

The official opening of the ceremony was performed by the host, Mayor Artur Kozioł and the guest of honour - the Małopolska Education Superindendent Artur Dzigański.

A child is a being needing the most help and support in the society, of whom,at the same time, the greatest hopes are being had.

The child, on the other hand, especially in the initial stage of development is totally dependent on the adults.Bearing this in mind, the gathered panellists discussed upon the condition of today's Family, the environment in which a child grows up.

Krystyna Kluzowa drew the gathered's attention to the grasp of the problem from the point of view of demographic transformations taking place in the modern society.Being a penetrating observer of the changes taking place in the society, she observed that the modern family functions in an environment being conducive to awakening of a feeling of loneliness among its members.

Faster pace of life, more frequent divorces, solitary child rising by only one of the parents are only some of the reasons.

The problem of loneliness of children also affects full families, where, as the Cracow Psychotherapy Institute director, Ryszard Izdebski observed,disorder and estrangement of family relations are taking place.

The model where the children are being brought up in partnership does not work, either.The parent stops being a somebody who can help the child solve its problems, who is an authority to it - the parent is only an equal partner.

"So that the family's strong"...these words were the leitmotif of the speech made by dr Wanda Półtawska, who tried to recall the great value of the Christian family model.The child needs both of the parents.Their authority,good advice and help are especially necessary in the period between 15th and 25th year of age, when the personality is in the course of development.Wanda Połtawska many a time expressed her faith in young people and stressed that it is children who suffer because of their parents and that the youth mirrors the examples passed over by the adults.Teresa Król from the "Guardian" monthly rose to speak concerning the issue of raising the children into adulthood;she stressed the influence of both of the parents upon forming of the child's sexuality.

The immigrant experience, their problems and crises, on the other hand became the key issue of speeches made by Ms Beata Kicińska and dr Małgorzata Łamacz.

The panel discussion closed the discussion;participated all the invited lecturers, judge Henryka Budyńska as well as the PCPR representatives.

During the breaks between the panels, one could taste the Polish traditional cuisine specialities prepared by the ladies from the Chorągwica Housewives' Club.The technical service on the other hand was provided by the students of the Techncial Schools Team of Wieliczka, who proved to be extremely professional.

Last year, in October, like this year,the 1st Wieliczka Conference took place as a part of the all-Polish social campaign"Pregnancy without alcohol".The meeting provided an occassion to discuss the problem of alcohol consumption during preganancy, the causes and - above all- repercussions of this phenomenon.

This year during the 2nd Wieliczka Conference another,equally significant, multifarious and extremely up-to-date problem - THE CHILD "alone" IN THE FAMILY was the key topic Doubtless, the October conference has become a permanent part of the cultural events calendar in Wieliczka.