CAŁY ARTYKUŁ

TELESKOP

gniezno24.com

Helen Kowalewska, a teacher with many years of experience, received multiple medals and titles, among them one of the most extraordinary titles – “Righteous Among the Nations”. “I have 14 awards for my service to people, this town, or at least I’d like to think so. Two among them are the most valuable for me – the title “Righteous Among the Nations” and Medal of Public Education: the highest pedagogic award. I received the title because of the four years spent in fear for myself and my life, the second award is a proof of my successful career, an appreciation for my long work”.

Ms Kowalewska is also a laureate of the award of the Order of the White Eagle, Gniezno Chapter. Her exceptional attitude earned her Silver and Golden Cross for her service, and the Knight’s Cross of Polonia Restituta. In 2009, she was conferred the Commander’s Cross of Polonia Restituta by the President Lech Kaczynski for her heroic attitude and bravery she demonstrated when saving Jews during the World War 2, for the extraordinary achievements in protection of human dignity and human rights.

“Human life was at stake!”

She can still remember difficulties of the World War 2, when together with her sister she rescued a young Jewish woman. “We were living in Kresy. My father was a head of the regional court in Bursztyn. He was working together with a Jewish lawyer and a father of two daughters, Arnold Rosen”, recalls Ms Kowalewska. Every day she played with Mr Rosen’s daughters as their houses were close to each other. When the war started, the Rosens were taken to the ghetto. “It came as a real shock for us”, she speaks emotionally, “We were running through potato fields together with my sister and crawling under the wire to bring some food and medicine for the family so that they could survive their terrible conditions. However, human atrocity knows no limits. One day the older daughter, Lusia witnessed her whole family murdered. Gestapo officer first shot her mother and father, then grabbed her little sister by the leg and hit her against the wall. Lusia went into shock and fainted; when she came to, she decided to run away. Luckily, she succeeded” says Ms Kowalewska.

The girl first got to the vicarage, where a local priest helped her get a birth certificate belonging to a dead child. After that, she ran to the Kowalewskis’ house. “We heard a doorbell ring on one cold, rainy November night. My mother was shocked to see cold and feverish Lusia standing at the door. Despite being terrified, the family continued hiding the little girl for four years. It was not easy, many times, we had to hide her in the cellar, and many times, we had to invent stories about a visiting cousin. Thanks to my mother who managed to stay level-headed in such situations, Lusia survived and managed to flee to France, where she eventually settled down,” continues Ms Kowalewska. She and her sister were conferred the title “Righteous Among the Nations”, although she firmly believes that the most important for her is Lusia’s gratitude, who often calls and writes to her. They were not putting themselves in danger hoping for awards. When being asked why she rescued Lusia, she replies surprised by the question: “I knew it was the right thing to do. Human life was at stake! My heart was telling me I had to do it.”

100th birthday

Honorary Gniezno resident is celebrating her 100th birthday today. How does she assess her life? “A life is not measured by the years lived but by what was achieved and what done in all these years. I know what I’ve done and this is what brings me joy when thinking back.”

Local authorities paid a visit to Ms Kowalewska’s to congratulate her with her birthday. After all the flowers, warm words, gifts and a “Happy Birthday” song, Head of the Gniezno Civil Registry Office read out a greeting letter from the Prime Minister, Beata Szydlo.

Ms Helen Kowalewska has been a teacher for all her life. She was teaching Polish and Russian. The highest educational award is not the only proof of her successful teaching career; many of her students still visit her and talk about her with great admiration.

“I will never forget my first teacher, Helen Kowalewska. She is an exceptional person, who taught us so much about life. Her wonderful ability to bring people together made it possible for her to have such a great impact on her students. Because of her so many people from her class still keep in touch and remember each other”, says Dariusz Pilak, a former Gniezno district head and current director of Gniezno Cultural Center.

“On September 1, 1969, we discovered that Helen Kowalewska would be our teacher. She was a great teacher and a mentor. She was our true school mother. She would praise and criticize us. She would use a carrot and stick method, just like our parents. She applied great teaching techniques, which she developed herself and they rendered great results. She put all her heart and soul into her work,” recalls Ms Malgorzata Tomczak, a teacher from Gniezno primary school no. 5. “I learned from Ms Kowalewska that you can teach anyone, that everyone deserves a chance and no teacher would want their students to repeat the same grade. I was extremely happy to have a chance to teach alongside such a great teacher in our school no. 5! I wish Ms Kowalewska to live until 200! She is a wonderful person, and I am very glad that I had an opportunity to meet her.”

Director of Primary school no. 5, Anna Wojcik-Starczewska, talks warmly about Ms Kowalewska: “I was honored to meet our dear Ms. Kowalewska, an example for many Gniezno residents. She could always bring together our staff and create a wonderful atmosphere, so that everyone was looking forward to going to work every day.”

Holy mass to honor the celebrant will take place today at 5 PM at St Michael’s church.

She will be celebrating for five days as there are so many willing visitors who would like to congratulate her. “I am very glad that so many people remember me. Such visits make me happy; although my health does not allow me spend too much time with my guests. However, I can always reminisce”, smiles Ms Kowalewska.