dialogue

My life encompasses a diverse range of interests and passions, all unified by the common thread of dialogue.

Following my secondary school graduation, I pursued studies in religious studies at the Jagiellonian University, Poland. The knowledge acquired during these three years laid the academic foundation for my deep involvement in interreligious dialogue. This academic background provided me with a nuanced perspective on religious experience, enabling me to explore both shared values and points of divergence.

Subsequently, I focused on library and information science during my undergraduate studies, but my research endeavours remained connected to my personal interests. For my bachelor’s degree dissertation, I delved into genealogy research on Polish Jews, a passion I had cultivated over several years as a translator and research volunteer at JewishGen groups. During my master’s studies, my emphasis shifted to the management of information and knowledge. However, my dissertation explored the social aspect of the Internet, titled „Gift, Exchange, and Trust: Its Role, Management, and Access to Information in Modern Society,” using the example of a free-hospitality network. Both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees were obtained from the University of Warsaw, Poland.

Building on the success of my master’s graduation, I embarked on a Ph.D. journey in the inter-faculty program of history and applied social sciences at the University of Warsaw. My Ph.D. dissertation aims to illuminate the influence of the Holocaust experience on post-war national identity in Poland and Israel.

However, my educational journey extends beyond the confines of classrooms. In high school, I actively contributed to organizing three editions of a school theatre festival and later joined the Association of T. Czacki High School Alumni. Throughout university, I served as a mentor in ESN (Erasmus Students Network) and played an active role in an international Catholic students’ organization (Pax Romana IMCS/MIEC), where I also led the JECI-MIEC European Coordination.

As a leader of the JECI-MIEC European Coordination, I initiated numerous interreligious initiatives, including co-founding the Faith-Based Expert Group (FBEG) and contributing to the creation of a youth-friendly manual for interreligious dialogue titled „Living Faiths Together: A T-kitt for Inter-religious Dialogue.”

During my term on the board of JECI-MIEC, I co-founded the European Inter-faith Youth Network – Religions for Peace (EIYN-RfP), the only European-wide network representing youth organizations and individuals from every religion in Europe. I also represented EIYN in the European Council of Religious Leaders and the European Women of Faith Network – Religions for Peace. In 2013, I stepped down from further involvement in RfP.

Additionally, I maintained my involvement in the Polish organization of Catholic intellectuals, KIK (Club of Catholic Intelligentsia), serving for ten years as an international officer and coordinator of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue. I was also a member of the Presidium of the Board of KIK and served as vice president from 2010 to 2012.

My time in KIK significantly contributed to the development of my Catholic faith and fostered an open approach toward other faiths and cultures. On a national level, I initiated and participated in numerous projects focusing on youth and multi-generational interactions, especially in Catholic-Jewish and Polish-Jewish dialogues, both culturally and religiously. One notable initiative is the International Film Festival 'Jewish Motifs,’ which I co-organized in Warsaw, Poland, for its tenth edition in 2014.

Through my involvement with KIK, I became acquainted with organizations such as Pax Romana, an international federation of Catholic intellectuals (ICMICA/MIIC) and students (IMCS/MIEC). After several years of active participation, I was elected to the European Liaison Committee (ELC) of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC in 2008, serving until the end of my mandate in 2012. From January 2007 to 2012, I was also active in Women’s Vision: the Women’s group of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC.

Motivated by various training experiences in KIK and JECI-MIEC European Coordination, I became a trainer of non-formal education, using my facilitation skills to contribute to intercultural and interreligious dialogue, students’ empowerment, human rights, peace education, social inclusion/exclusion, project management, and new information technologies.

Presently, I continue my active engagement with Wikimedia Poland in GLAM and gender gap initiatives. On the professional front, I work as a Senior Library Assistant at OSCE/ODIHR in Warsaw, Poland. I also pursue freelance training opportunities. In 2019, I successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Warsaw, Poland.