The groups that came to Goławice included children from the lower secondary school in Turze Pole, Podkarpacie Region (the school’s patron is the former President of NIK, Walerian Pańko, who died in tragic circumstances). Together with them a group of youth from Korostyszew, Ukrainian town near Żytomierz arrived. ”A half of our children have Polish roots. Others learn Polish in Ukraine and show interest in our culture” - explains the group carer , Rev. Andrzej Baczyński.
Children from Poland and Ukraine
Iwona Adamska, the carer from Turze Pole, admits that the children from both groups made friends very fast. They willingly spend time and have fun together. ”We have no problems with communication” - says Paweł, student of the lower secondary school in Podkarpacie. ”A part of guests from Ukraine speak Polish quite well. Besides, we are helping them a bit” - he adds with a smile. ”We hope that the time spent together will be very fruitful” - Marek Chodkiewicz, Director General of the Polish SAI, sums up the President’s initiative.
The children from Ukraine not only had their holidays in Goławice but also learnt Polish. ”A part of them are descendants of victimised families, so intimidated that they were afraid to pass on the awareness of their Polish origin” - explains Rev. Baczyński. And he explains that before coming to Goławice he called the Education Department in Pomiechówek with a question if they had a teacher to give Polish lessons to his group. Although it was the time of holidays, the teachers responded to that request immediately and after just one hour five volunteers registered. This is what made Julia Sułkowska, the carer of the Ukrainian group, very happy. ”Our kids will have a chance to learn more about Poland, practise the language. Unfortunately, the Polish language has already disappeared from many homes” - she explains.
Alina, a 14-year-old from Korostyszew, was impressed most by the trip to Warsaw. ”The Old Town appealed to me a lot” - she says with a flicker in her eye. ”And the Museum of Warsaw Uprising” - friend Helena interrupts her. Both claim that thanks to the Polish classes during which they learnt a lot about our country, they visited those places with greater consciousness. And they add that although they have stayed in Goławice for as long as 2 weeks, they do not feel like getting back home at all.
