The Polonia Congress “Poland, the Great Project” in London is a day-long event for Poles living outside their homeland. The conference will be held on September 16 at 12:00 pm in London at The View conference centre located in the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons, where conference participants will be able to meet with leading representatives of the English-Polish community and representatives of Polish national institutions involved in contact with compatriots living abroad.
The aim of the conference is to integrate and cultivate ties with the British-Polish community and strengthen compatriots’ ties with their homeland. Our Congress is aimed at young people, seniors, academics, entrepreneurs and all those for whom Poland is the uniting dimension of their identity. The meeting will include three-panel discussions devoted, in turn, to the actions of the authorities of the Republic of Poland in favour of the Polish community, the role of the Polish community in Polish-British relations and the cultivation of Polish identity abroad. The substantive meetings will be followed by an artistic performance and a banquet, during which participants will have time to integrate with each other and celebrate Polish identity together.
Admission is free and possible upon registration through the Eventbrite website.
You are cordially invited!
Programme:
12:00 Official Opening
12:15-13:45 Poland beyond borders. How can Poland more effectively support and integrate Polonia?
Jan Badowski – Director of the Department for Cooperation with Polonia and Poles Abroad at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland
Tomasz Lis – Musician, pianist and soloist
Adam Gajkowski – President of „Nasza Polonia” Organisation
Grzegorz Górny – President of the Poland Grand Project Foundation – Moderator
Language: Polish
13:45-14:45 Lunch
14:45-16:15 Polonia for Poland. The role of Polonia in Polish-British relations
Prof. Piotr Wilczek – Ambassador of Poland to the United Kingdom
Daniel Kawczynski MP – Member of the UK Parliament, Conservative Party
Magda Harvey BEM, White Eagle Appeal
Michał Łuczewski – Vice President of the Poland Grand Project Foundation – Moderator
Language: English
16:20-18:00 With Poland in our hearts. Nurturing Polish identity beyond borders
Justin Maciejewski – Director General of the National Army Museum
Kasia Madera, BBC presenter
Elżbieta Barrass – Chairwoman of the Polish School Association
George Byczynski – Editor-in-Chief of British Poles – Moderator
Language: English
18:15 Artistic Segment – Orlęta
18:45 Banquet – Drinks Reception
Organisers: Poland Great Project and British Poles
The event is registration only, and there is a strict place limit. There will be a guest list and security on the door.
Project financed by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister as part of the Polonia and Poles Abroad 2023.
WHEN: 16 September 2023, 12.00-21.00
WHERE: The View in The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 38-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE
REGISTRATION: here