The Irena Sendler Repairing the World Award Winner Announced

Redakcja / Editorial staff, 16 November 2016
Małgorzata Matecka, a Polish Studies teacher at a Łódż senior high school, has been named as the winner of the Irena Sendler Repairing the World Award. The presentation of the Award, which recognises a teacher’s work in promoting tolerance and helping those in need, took place on Monday 29th September 2014 in Warsaw.

Małgorzata Matecka is a Polish Studies teacher the Stanisław Wyspiański Comprehensive Senior High School in Łódż. She works together with the Never Again Association (Stowarzyszenie „Nigdy Więcej”), with whom she organises the Provincial Youth Band Review Równi i różni (Equal and Different), during which young musicians, representing various styles and genres, present pieces connected with the themes of tolerance and equality. This year’s winner also organised the editions of the literary competition, Młodzież pamięta (Youth Remembers), during which students submit short stories inspired by the issue of racial discrimination in the contemporary world. Małgorzata Matecka also conducts training for teachers, school principals, police and volunteers on the issues of hate speech, racism and antisemitism in stadiums and on educating for tolerance.

Since 2006, the Irena Sendler Award has been presented to teachers who educate their students in a spirit of tolerance and respect for others, who inspire activities based on those principles and who play an active role in their school and in the local community.

Among past winners of the Award are teachers in Holocaust education, multiculturalism and tolerance. The winner receives 15,000 złoty. The Irena Sendler Award is organised by the Children of the Holocaust Association and the Centre of Civic Education Foundation.

Source: PPA