Kinga Kołodziejczyk

I have always been interested in history and I always dreamed of studying it. In my senior year in high school I visited Auschwitz for the first time… Soon afterwards, I attended the Open Day at Jagiellonian University and found a major suitable for my interests: Jewish Studies – Jewish history and culture. And so it began…

I am a historian, educator and museologist. I am most strongly involved in elementary and secondary education. I find uncovering the centuries-long presence of Jews in Poland to young people extremely fascinating, just like once upon a time someone else did the same for me. I often hold workshops and meetings pertaining to Jewish history and culture.

Why do I choose to get involved in this subject matter?

Because I consider learning about local history a priority in education. Uncovering forgotten histories is key for better understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

What is the meaning of my activism? I want local residents of all age groups, but especially the youngest generation, be familiar with and able to talk about their town’s multicultural past as well as to be aware of cultural and religious diversity that appeared throughout the ages in Szczebrzeszyn. I want to acquaint local residents with the meaning of tolerance, to combat prejudice and to make local Jewish heritage important both to locals and tourists. I provide others with tools in the form of acquired knowledge that they can use to build bridges. What do I get out of it? Peace of mind and a sense that we are doing the right thing.

Activism