Helping is in my blood
In the remarkable book "Yours Truly," Ai Weiwei writes:
"Unfortunately, I don't think the world will ever be a place where we can live without fear. There always seems to be a need to fight for our basic human rights. Every day we must fight - and sometimes even sacrifice - in our efforts to protect these values."
In my family
In my family, countless experiences have deeply shown me the profound importance of helping others.
When they ask me why I help, I reply that it is in my genes. My grandparents, Sława and Izek Wołosiański, showed courage and unparalleled determination during the darkest times, when humanity was put to the test by unimaginable cruelty. They hid 39 Jews in a basement under their house in Drohobych during the German occupation of the city, risking their own lives. All the survivors survived the Second World War, thanks to their heroic attitude.
My grandmother was only 24 years old at the time and had a young child - my mother. It was my grandparents who shaped me, especially my grandmother, whose courage, cheerfulness and unwavering belief that anything is possible are the driving force behind my actions. Her indomitable spirit and boundless energy have inspired my life. She infected me with the desire to help others, and now she has become the main character of my book.
In my family
In my family, countless experiences have deeply shown me the profound importance of helping others.
When they ask me why I help, I reply that it is in my genes. My grandparents, Sława and Izek Wołosiański, showed courage and unparalleled determination during the darkest times, when humanity was put to the test by unimaginable cruelty. They hid 39 Jews in a basement under their house in Drohobych during the German occupation of the city, risking their own lives. All the survivors survived the Second World War, thanks to their heroic attitude.
My grandmother was only 24 years old at the time and had a young child - my mother. It was my grandparents who shaped me, especially my grandmother, whose courage, cheerfulness and unwavering belief that anything is possible are the driving force behind my actions. Her indomitable spirit and boundless energy have inspired my life. She infected me with the desire to help others, and now she has become the main character of my book.
Helping is in my blood
I have been involved in helping others for as long as I can remember. First as myself and my family, and now under the banner of the Foundation I co-founded. The Humanosh Foundation, named after my beloved grandparents, is a bastion of hope for those who face merciless adversity in their search for a better life. We are committed to helping political refugees from Belarus, war refugees from Ukraine and Tibetan and Afghan people forgotten by the world.
We assist refugees in acclimatising to Poland, arranging the necessary documents, finding work and provide them with temporary shelter in our Mirny Doms ('Peace Houses') in Warsaw and flats in Łódź.
In addition, our Emergency Medical Team organises medical missions to the most war-affected regions and humanitarian convoys with aid to Ukrainians. This is just a slice of the Foundation's work, which strives every day to restore hope and dignity to those who have been brutally deprived of it.
While the world will never be a perfect place, I believe that every act of kindness brings us closer to a better tomorrow. By helping others, we are reminded of the power of community and solidarity, even in the face of the greatest challenges. Every moment dedicated to another human being is a step towards a better future. Therein lies the true power of humanity.
Polski