The news of the meeting between Poland’s Agata Kornhauser-Duda and America’s Jill Biden was announced on social media by the Polish ambassador to the United States, Marek Magierowski.
He said the two first ladies had a "productive talk" about "how to most effectively help Ukrainian children traumatised by war."
Meeting with Pelosi on support for Ukraine
Poland’s first lady arrived in Washington on Tuesday, new outlets reported.
On the first day of her visit, Kornhauser-Duda met for talks with former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
During the meeting the Polish first lady stressed the historic importance of US President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Kyiv and Warsaw, according to officials.
She also "emphasised the significance of NATO unity" and America's support for Ukraine as it fights for freedom, sovereignty and independence, "not just its own, but also of the region and the world," officials said.
Help for Ukrainian refugees
Kornhauser-Duda briefed Pelosi on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Poland, according to the Polish presidential office.
She "expressed her pride at the way the Polish people have welcomed Ukrainian refugees to their homes and sought to secure the best possible living conditions for innocent victims of war," the office said.
The Polish first lady said that, thanks to international cooperation and the efforts of her counterparts in other countries, including America’s Jill Biden, it was possible to evacuate child patients, children with disabilities and children in institutional care from the war zone and provide them with shelter and professional care.
Kornhauser-Duda also mentioned a Polish training programme for Ukrainian doctors, "the need to provide rehabilitation for the injured, as well as treatment of burns." She "stressed the need to treat post-traumatic stress disorder" afflicting many Ukrainians.
The Polish first lady said that refugee support should now focus on helping Ukrainian women become independent, for instance through language courses and training that enables them to find jobs aligned with their qualifications.
She also told Pelosi that 80 percent of adult Ukrainians living in Poland had already found jobs, according to the Polish presidential office.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kornhauser-Duda discussed support for Ukraine and its refugees during a working breakfast with the Lithuanian ambassador to the United States, Audra Plepytė, and Italian ambassador Mariangela Zappia, officials said.
Meeting with Polish Americans in Washington
Also on Tuesday, the first lady discussed "diaspora-based education and national identity" with Polish teachers, students and their parents in Washington, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Kornhauser-Duda thanked parents and teachers for "transmitting the Polish language, culture and tradition to the younger generation," according to officials.
Photo: KPRP/Grzegorz Jakubowski
‘Parents are the cornerstone of diaspora education’
She said: “Parents are the cornerstone of diaspora education. It’s to your credit, ladies and gentlemen, that you seek to ensure that your children, many of whom were born in the United States, cultivate Polish culture and tradition.”
‘Teachers have a special role to play’
Addressing the teachers, the Polish first lady said they had “a special role” to play.
She stated: “Teachers are instilling the spirit of patriotism in our youth, as well as respect for our national symbols.”
Kornhauser-Duda added: “However, you also make sure, ladies and gentlemen, that the pupils are taught tolerance both for their country of origin and their country of residence. This is a very demanding and responsible mission.”
Teachers and parents "shared their insights with the first lady, describing their everyday challenges, as well as discussing textbooks for learning Polish as a foreign language, new ways to help the young generation develop and the importance of broadening horizons," officials said.
Photo: KPRP/Grzegorz Jakubowski
‘You will grow up to be proud Poles and Americans’
Kornhauser-Duda stressed that young people needed considerable motivation to make the additional effort of learning "in a diaspora-based school."
She told the students: “I realise how much effort it requires for you to spend the weekends learning, while your peers have time for leisure activities.”
She added: “Even if you don’t appreciate it now, believe me, it’s your great capital for the future. You will grow up to be proud Poles and Americans that know their worth.”
Cultivating Polish identity and culture
Tuesday’s meeting also focused on "the strong ties between America’s Polish community and its country of origin and on ways to cultivate Polish identity and culture," according to officials.
Kornhauser-Duda encouraged the children to take part in her favourite readership-promotion campaign, known as National Reading Day, which aims to unite Polish people across all continents every year, reporters were told.
The students "showcased their knowledge and skills in an artistic performance, and later shared their learning challenges and plans for the future," according to officials.
The first lady invited everyone to visit Poland and encouraged young people to study at Polish universities, the PAP news agency reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, prezydent.pl