How to make the world a better place?
Text: Janina Ochojska

Poland’s “Solidarity” movement of the 1980s gave my country its freedom. France’s solidarity with Poles in their time of need resulted
in, among other things, contacts with non-governmental organizations, from whom we learned the ideals of social commitment. This meeting led to the solidarity shown by Poles for the besieged Sarajevo, transforming my country from one receiving assistance into one providing help
to more needy countries around the world. “Solidarity” with a big S changed into solidarity with the victims of extreme poverty, wars and natural disasters, into a solidarity of hearts and deeds.

The image of the global world is depressing. Chronic poverty, which means the possibility of less than one meal a day, affects 1.2 billion people, and 660 million lack normal daily access to clean water. Nearly 66 million refugeess have lost their homelands and live in humiliating conditions, with no hope of change. The world is currently afflicted by 64 wars, which are killing tens of thousands of people a year. Meanwhile, the rich countries of the North live in fear of terrorism and the influx of refugees. Today, many young people wonder and are asking ever louder the question: how to save humanity? How do we change that which is the source of so much suffering and injustice in a world divided into two by wealth?

What’s needed today is a new, more committed and universal solidarity, one aimed at creating conditions for the sustainable development of all societies. The suffering of our brothers and sisters is multiplied by our indifference to their problems, and our perception of poverty as a threat to our own rich world. To change this, we need dialogue. According to that great philosopher Father Józef Tischner, “dialogue means people coming out of their hiding places, approaching each other and beginning to exchange views. Even the beginning of dialogue – coming out of hiding – is a big event. You have to step forward, cross the threshold, reach out and find a common place in which to talk”. Precisely such an ideal place is the “Me and You” exhibition, whose message is the chance for its viewers to build consensus and understanding, friendship and mutual respect for people of other races, cultures and religions. It is an opportunity to jointly undertake active and everyday solidarity, placing in our hands responsibility for the shape of the world in which we want to live.

My name is Janina Ochojska, I head the Polish Humanitarian Action. Despite my disability, I initiated the founding of an organization that has helped millions of people in 44 countries.
I hope that the message of the “Me and You” exhibition inspires you to undertake some concrete form of assistance for the victims of the wars in Syria and Iraq. Below you will find information on how you can go about it. May this turn out to be a lasting gesture, full of commitment, responsibility and hope for our consciences.

Janina Ochojska (b. 1955) – founder and president of the Polish Humanitarian Action (Polska Akcja Humanitarna – PAH). From 1976,
an activist with the Torun branch of “Solidarity”, in 1984, as a volunteer with the French humanitarian organization EquiLibre, she coordinated medical assistance and food supplies for Polish hospitals. In 1992, at her and Alain Michel’s initiative and with the help of Prof. Zbigniew Chłap and Bogdana Pilichowska, a Polish branch of the EquiLibre Foundation was established in order to organize convoys with humanitarian aid to war-torn Sarajevo. Two years later, Janina Ochojska founded PAH
– the Polish Humanitarian Action, which she heads to this day.