Karski Bench at the Georgetown University campus (Photo: JKEF Archives)
Since 2014, the Jan Karski Educational Foundation and Fundacja Edukacyjna Jana Karskiego have funded a scholarship for Polish diplomats, government officials, journalists, non-profit activists, lawyers, and scholars to participate in the prestigious Georgetown Leadership Seminar, organized annually by the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Many outstanding professionals applied for this year’s scholarship, and after a careful review, the JKEF/FEJK committee has selected the following individuals to receive this sought-after scholarship.
Justyna Radziukiewicz holds a master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Warsaw. Her work focuses on cultural and historical education, emphasizing the use of artistic expression to engage the public with history and exploring innovative ways to connect the present with the past. At the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS), she leads the Sound in the Silence project (SiS), an international and interdisciplinary initiative that connects young people through location-based art and educational workshops at historical sites marked by the 20th-century Europe’s trauma and dictatorships. Prior to joining ENRS, Justyna worked in public institutions and NGOs, including serving as Head of the Department of Cultural Education and the Warsaw Photoplasticon at the Warsaw Rising Museum (2012-2019), where she organized numerous cultural events centered on Polish historical heritage. Aside from the SiS project, her key achievements include producing several music albums for leading Polish artists (VooVoo, Smolik/Grosiak/Miuosh, Młynarski-Masecki Jazz Camerata Varsoviensis), organizing the mass event “Warszawiacy śpiewają (nie)ZAKAZANE PIOSENKI” (“Warsaw Residents Sing (Un)FORBIDDEN SONGS”), producing the 2020 School of Dialogue Gala, and creating the documentary series “Zbiory opowieści” (“Collection of Stories”).
In her essay about Jan Karski, which was part of the application, Ms. Radziukiewicz recalls his famous statement from the 1995 interview: “Great crimes start with the little things”. “[The Sound in the Silence] project enables us to remember while facilitating the recall of historical events that we would rather forget,” she writes. “It is, however, paradoxically more straightforward for us to retain the narrative of the victim. It is a common phenomenon for individuals to eschew recollection of the actions and legacy of those who perpetrate crimes, as well as those who remain passive bystanders. It is crucial to recall historical events in an objective manner without resorting to denial. Oblivion is not a viable strategy for fostering dialogue, mutual understanding, and the integration of future generations. It is our responsibility to act by the principles espoused by Jan Karski and to remind young people that seemingly insignificant acts often accompany significant crimes. The values represented by Jan Karski are still insufficiently represented in the contemporary world. We must continue his mission.”
Radosław Niedzielski is a manager with experience in the public sector. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University and the National School of Public Administration, he gained and mastered his professional experience at the Ministry of Treasury, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Industrial Development Agency S.A., and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, among others. He has been responsible for exercising rights attached to stocks and shares in over 150 companies with State Treasury shareholding. He led investment projects involving direct capital input from the State Treasury or a state legal entity. Mr. Niedzielski is an expert in the field of restructuring, including the use of public aid, and a co-author of the aid program for rescuing and restructuring entrepreneurs, which received the European Commission notification and which he successfully implemented under the national law five years later. He currently holds the position of Vice President of the Management Board at the Industrial Development Agency, overseeing finance and the capital group. Additionally, he is on the Supervisory Board of Bank Pekao and Welcome Airport Services.
Here is an excerpt from Mr. Niedzielski’s essay:
“Karski’s legacy is… his ethos, and it should be inherited first and foremost by journalists, for it is they who bear a special duty of providing reliable and credible information to the public and policymakers. This task, however, is by no means easy in the age of mass media, where the speed of coverage and the desire to reach the widest possible audience often suppress impartiality and objectivity that have no place in an age of the constant pursuit of sensationalism.
A unique role… is played by journalists in times of war, especially in Ukraine, where deception, contradiction, or denial are constant elements in the conduct of military operations as part of Russia’s maskirovka strategy. Extracting the truth from a sea of disinformation aimed at bolstering support among one side’s citizens while weakening the opponent’s morale is particularly difficult. It requires not only inquisitiveness and diligence but, above all, the courage to head in a direction from which others are fleeing. Indeed, only by reaching out to direct witnesses of the crimes and sites of execution while maintaining journalistic integrity can we develop the credibility necessary to bear witness to the truth.
Consequently, we need more Karskis than ever before, the ones who are faithful to their ideals, who are ready to self-verify the collected materials and impartially present information in different contexts, regardless of their own political leanings.”
Essay excerpts have been slightly edited for clarity.
The program will take place from October 20-25, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Please read about the JKEF/FEJK-sponsored GLS scholarship recipients in previous years here.
Founded in 1982, the Georgetown Leadership Seminar is the premier executive education program at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, where Jan Karski served as a distinguished professor for 40 years. It brings rising leaders from around the world to the campus for a week of intensive discussion on major international issues. The GLS vision is to promote dialogue on global affairs and interdisciplinary cooperation among individuals who will help shape the future of their organizations and countries. Participants will have an opportunity to study major issues that influence U.S. foreign policy by meeting with top-level American policymakers and establishing contacts imperative for strengthening international understanding and cooperation. More information at: https://gls.georgetown.edu/
Recipents' Photos: Courtesy of Justyna Radziukiewicz and Radosław Niedzielski
