Bonisławski: Poles are returning from emigration. It’s a trend

What are the other needs of the Polish community around the world? What can be done not only by NGOs but also by the state?

Apart from humanitarian aid, so much needed especially in the face of pandemics, war in the East, or totalitarian repression, the needs of Poles abroad can be divided into several areas. The first is to help maintain Polish identity where those communities live —I am thinking here of systemic support for Polish schools and financial and organisational assistance for events showing Polish culture or history. The second is contact with the country providing an opportunity for a kind of recharging of batteries through “industry” meetings, participation in conventions, or sporting events. The third area concerns building a sense of pride in being Polish as an emigrant or abroad. This is best achieved through clever international activity, economic and scientific success, or by organising the Polish state in such a way that it is a positive example for others.

Can we already observe a trend of Poles returning to Poland?

Yes. In the last few months, over 2,000 more Poles have returned to the country than have left. This shows, on the one hand, that we live in a good part of the world — we can leave and return without facing any oppression. On the other hand, it is proof that our country is changing a lot. Life here is getting better and better economically, and when you come back you are home and, as we all know, there’s no place like home. More specifically, our universities are increasingly making international ranking lists, new technologies are developing rapidly, and social protection has approached the level of countries that were once emigration hotspots. These, among other reasons, are why more and more people want to live here.

How do you assess the topic of returns from the former Soviet Union?

The figures I referred to earlier concern Poles who have moved to the West. The situation is slightly different when it comes to those who have remained in the east for various reasons. Returns from Ukraine or Belarus are most often economically motivated and, of course, the war has recently became a very crucial factor, with a whole package of negative consequences. The Polish state has been supporting this process for many years, granting considerable facilitation with the granting of the Pole’s Card document to the applicant, which becomes a “pass” for legal work and, subsequently, citizenship. Still, other proposals are aimed at the descendants of the victims of Stalin’s deportations from Siberia or Kazakhstan. These people can benefit from the repatriation programme in which our Polish Community House in Pułtusk is involved. During their stay of several months, they gain practical knowledge of how to enter the Polish social, health, and educational system, find work, and, thanks to budget funding, buy or rent a flat, consequently contributing to the demographic potential of our country.

How do you feel about the award that Wspólnota Polska received in Karpacz as NGO of the Year?

I accept this award on behalf of the several thousand members who volunteer their services to the Polish communities and Poles abroad — my colleagues and our partners from those communities. I was very emotional when receiving the award because the chapter of the Economic Forum has repeatedly shown that efficiency, professionalism, and, in the case of “our category”, the ability to work for the common good are appreciated, and these are the values we price the most.

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