Some 1,500 young people of Polish descent from around the world gathered at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) campus for the second edition of Polonia Camp, a four-day meeting running until July 26 that includes panel discussions and workshops.
Organizers described the event as a platform to build lasting engagement between young diaspora Poles and their ancestral homeland, and a source of inspiration for their involvement in Poland's social, cultural and economic life.
Opening the gathering, Kidawa-Błońska said the camp grew out of a wish to show that young Poles abroad want to organize, preserve Polish tradition, and champion Poland's future in their adopted countries. She credited the creation of the Youth Council of Polish Diaspora with making the event possible.
"I hope that next year you will invite more people here, and a relay of passing on knowledge, information and friendship will emerge", she said, urging young Poles living abroad not to let go of what unites them.
She said she was looking forward to concrete proposals and results from the group's work ahead of next year.
On Friday, participants are due to meet Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the diaspora's role in shaping Poland's image abroad, followed by a 3:00 p.m. panel with Senate deputy speakers titled "Together for the Polish Diaspora".
The program also includes a meeting with Andrzej Poczobut, a leader of the Polish minority in Belarus who spent five years imprisoned by the Belarusian regime, along with discussions on Polish language and literature featuring Michał Rusinek, Jerzy Bralczyk and Michał Ogórek. Economist Marcin Piątkowski is set to address whether Poland is currently experiencing a "golden age", while other sessions cover recognition of foreign qualifications, starting businesses, inheritance and property matters for those relocating to Poland, study opportunities, and AI-based business ventures. World champion Paweł Zagumny will lead a volleyball training session and match.
The event is open to 18- to 30-year-olds living outside Poland who identify as being of Polish descent. It is organized by the "Polish Community" Association, the Institute of Public Affairs, the Kosciuszko Foundation Poland and Brandfeed, under the patronage of Kidawa-Błońska and co-financed by the Senate Chancellery.