Insect Houses and Forests in a Jar Workshops with Bain and Seniors from the Senior Home in Warsaw on May 16, 2025
Insect Houses and Forests in a Jar Workshops with Bain and Seniors from the Senior Home in Warsaw on May 16, 2025
On May 16, 2025, the One More Tree Foundation organized a special ecological event in cooperation with Bain. The workshops took place at the Senior Home on Oliwska Street in Warsaw and aimed not only at ecological education but also at social activation and intergenerational integration.
Seniors, together with Bain volunteers, created insect houses and forests in a jar—two incredibly inspiring activities that combine environmental care with manual work, creativity, and the joy of working together.
Insect Houses – Small Structures with a Big Purpose
During the workshops, 10 insect houses were made using natural materials such as wood, bamboo, pine cones, and straw. These unassuming constructions serve a very important role—they provide shelter for wild pollinators like solitary bees, bumblebees, ladybugs, and lacewings. In the face of shrinking natural habitats in cities, such houses are invaluable support for insects that are crucial for pollinating plants and maintaining biodiversity.
Two of these insect houses were donated to the Senior Home, where they will find a place in the garden and serve as a reminder of a day full of ecological engagement. The remaining eight houses were given to the One More Tree Foundation, which will ensure their proper placement in urban spaces—parks, community gardens, and near schools.
Forests in a Jar – A Miniature World of Nature
The second part of the workshops involved creating forests in a jar—plant compositions enclosed in glass containers that form small, self-sustaining ecosystems. Several such compositions were made, each unique and individual, just like the people who created them.
Planting, arranging moss and stones, selecting compositions—all of this required precision, patience, and commitment. It was also a wonderful way to connect with nature and reflect on the balance that the natural environment provides. For seniors, it was a precious opportunity to create something beautiful that would remain with them longer—as a room decoration and as a keepsake from a shared day.
Employee Volunteering in Practice – Helping with Heart
The event was attended by Bain employees who demonstrated great commitment, empathy, and warmth from the very beginning. Their presence went beyond passive participation—they fully supported the seniors at every stage of the workshops. They helped assemble insect houses, carefully arranged moss and plants in jars, encouraged group cooperation, and patiently explained each step. There was also time for conversations, laughter, and sharing personal stories—these small interactions built true intergenerational understanding.
This was employee volunteering at its best—informal, warm, based on closeness and real human contact. Bain employees proved that helping does not require spectacular means—just presence, willingness to support, and openness. Thanks to their engagement, seniors felt valued, seen, and cared for.
Such cooperation between a company and a foundation is more than CSR—it is a true partnership with both social and educational dimensions. Participation in volunteering allows employees to step beyond everyday professional duties and experience the direct impact of their actions on other people and the environment. It is a chance to develop social, ecological, and emotional sensitivity as well as to build a work culture based on values.
Thanks to initiatives like this, not only are team relationships strengthened, but also the sense of shared responsibility for the world around us. For many participants, this experience will remain a cherished memory—a day when they truly made a difference.
Senior Activation – Creativity, Integration, Satisfaction
For the residents of the Senior Home on Oliwska Street, the workshops were much more than just an afternoon activity. They were a breath of fresh air, an opportunity to meet new people, experience something new, and break from the daily routine. Working together on insect houses and creating their own forests in a jar allowed participants to express themselves, feel empowered, and take pride in the results of their work.
Seniors eagerly engaged in manual tasks that not only fostered creativity but also had a therapeutic dimension. These activities support fine motor skills, improve precision and concentration, and above all—bring joy and satisfaction. In many cases, manual work is calming, reduces stress, and enhances well-being, while the ability to create something beautiful and ecological provides great fulfillment.
Equally important was the social aspect of the meeting—conversations with volunteers, sharing experiences, and a sense of community. Many participants emphasized how meaningful it was that someone from outside the home came specifically to spend time with them and create something together. This form of activation is not only a tool for psychological and emotional support—it also builds intergenerational bridges and breaks stereotypes about aging.
This event showed that age does not limit the ability to participate in social life and act for nature—everyone, regardless of age, can contribute something valuable and be part of positive change.
Together We Can Do More
The ecological workshops organized by One More Tree Foundation and Bain are an example of activities that connect generations, support the environment, and have a real impact on local communities. Through joint work, not only insect houses and forests in a jar were created—but also relationships, good memories, and a sense of purpose.
We thank everyone who joined us that day. Events like this show that every gesture matters, every initiative can be the beginning of a bigger change, and every person—regardless of age—can become part of actions for the planet.
