test112233 - Instytut Pileckiego

Witold Pilecki is one of the greatest heroes of World War II. In September 1940 he carried out an act of almost unimaginable courage by deliberately letting himself get caught by the Germans in order to infiltrate Auschwitz and report on German crimes.

Discover Witold Pilecki’s amazing story and the way it continues to inspire new generations to engage with the darkest chapter in our common history.

"Witold Pilecki. The Auschwitz Volunteer” is a new project from the Pilecki Institute. We wish to invite institutions and associations in the United States of America to join us in promoting the incredible story of Witold Pilecki, whose brave mission to Auschwitz touched so many lives. Over the next months the Institute, in partnership with the Polish National Foundation, will be offering an online educational programme to help pass his story on to the widest audience possible and bring into focus the deeper themes of the war and its lessons for today. Sign up to get the books, latest information on the program and future events (link).

We will carry out a dedicated program to engage high school students with the subject of the Holocaust and Poland’s contribution the fight against it, as well as its role in defeating Germany in World War II. We want to involve students from American schools, with the goal to promote Witold Pilecki and his achievements in local communities. Should your institution take an interest in the project, you can support students as they work on their individual projects. In order to participate in the "Witold Pilecki. The Auschwitz Volunteer” project, please register here. The project is carried out with partnership and funding from the Polish National Foundation.

Why Pilecki?
Witold Pilecki is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest heroes. He volunteered to infiltrate Auschwitz, where he witnessed the beginnings of the Holocaust. His reports from the camp reached the Allies in London. After escaping from Auschwitz and surviving the war, Pilecki went on to fight against the Communist takeover of Poland. Arrested by the Soviet-backed regime, he was tortured, convicted in a show trial and executed with a bullet to the back of the head. His legacy had been concealed for more than 4 decades - until the 1990s, when he was finally rehabilitated. Pilecki’s story is thus at the center of two of the twentieth century’s most brutal totalitarian regimes. Understanding his legacy offers us essential lessons for making sure the mistakes of the past are never repeated. What does he represent today? What can we still learn from him? Why is he still so intriguing? You can help us understand that. Rediscover Pilecki with us! 

The Pilecki Institute
We strive to introduce young people to the difficult chapters of history through the stories of inspiring men and women. We believe that only by engaging with our past can we become understand the present and prepare for the future. We encourage individual study, dialogue between communities, creativity, and the sharing of stories.

We support:
●    Engaging in dialogue with family, friends and the local community
●    Developing critical thinking and problem solving skills
●    All forms of research and historical inquiry

If you want to join us:
1.    Register for this year's project.
2.    Download the Guide Book and educational materials
3.    Wait for the delivery of our special Educational Package including Jack Fairweather's international bestseller „The Volunteer” (some materials will be sent to the email provided during registration).
4.    Discover Witold Pilecki's amazing story
5.    Choose your presentation methods
6.    Complete the online course on making exciting and convincing presentations.
7.    Win widespread recognition for your work through our channels.

 About the book
“The Volunteer” by Jack Fairweather is an award-winning account of cpt. Witold Pilecki, the hero who infiltrated Auschwitz and witnessed the beginning of the Holocaust. In February, the book was named the 2019 Costa Book of the Year in the United Kingdom, selling more than 100,000 copies.

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About the author
Jack Fairweather is a graduate of Oxford University and a correspondent for the Washington Post and the Daily Telegraph, where he was the paper’s Baghdad and Persian Gulf bureau chief. His reporting while an embedded reporter during the Iraq invasion won him the prestigious British Press Award.

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The project is carried out with partnership and funding from the Polish National  Foundation

FAQ
1. How many people can join one Pilecki Team?
A Pilecki Team can consist of a maximum of five people. They can be students only (if they are 16 or older) or four students with one adult (if they are under 16).
2. Can we work independently?
Yes. You can work without a guardian if you are over 16 years old. If you are younger, it will be easier for you to partner with an adult.
3. Who can be a supervisor of a Pilecki Team?
A Pilecki Team guardian can be a teacher, tutor, coach or parent.
4. Where can we find help?
Your first port of call should be the materials contained in the Educational Packages prepared by the Pilecki Institute. You will receive it by post after you register to the program. You will also have the Pilecki Teams Guide Book at your disposal, which will guide you through all the stages of your project. Look for assistance in your local community who will help you with the logistics, financing, finding solutions to problems and answers to your questions. You can ask a teacher, a school, parish or local government representative, or a local historian for assistance. An expert from the Pilecki Institute will also be at your disposal.
5. What is the role of the Pilecki Team guardian?
The supervisor suggests ideas, presents the possible options for a project, helps in establishing contacts with partners, and organizes team meetings. He or she will also help to work through the "Witold Pilecki. The Auschwitz Volunteer” project in accordance with the Pilecki Teams Guide Book and help writing a report of the project. He or she can also be a point of contact with the Pilecki Institute who inspires, helps, and passes on information, but who allows you to act independently.
6. Who will go on the educational trip to Poland?
A jury consisting of employees from the Education and Production departments of the Pilecki Institute will decide which teams will come to Poland as part of a reward for the effort put into implementing the "Witold Pilecki. The Auschwitz Volunteer” project. They will assess the project reports sent by the Pilecki Teams according to the criteria contained in the Regulations.
7. What will the trip to Poland entail?
The chosen teams will visit the most important places in the history of Witold Pilecki and the 20th century. You will take part in workshops led by the Pilecki Institute’s education department, go on educational trips, and visit museums and memorials. Thanks to meetings with witnesses of history, you'll learn about the surviving facets of history from 80 years ago. We will invite you to Warsaw, Kraków and other places which will help you to understand the complicated history of the 20th century.
8. Who do I contact if I still have questions?
Please contact the Pilecki Institute’s education department regarding "Witold Pilecki. The Auschwitz Volunteer” project:
Anna Brojer – a.brojer@instytutpileckiego.pl
Kacper Kempisty – k.kempisty@instytutpileckiego.pl