Friendship Exchange: “It’s like Dessert,” says Poland’s District GovernorThere’s a lot on Piotr Jankowski plate these days, as the RI District Governor of Poland oversees humanitarian efforts there to support refugees from Ukraine. Although his visit to the US, and to the April RI Tricon23 Convention in La Crosse, was part of a Friendship Exchange, his main entree was ginning up support for Ukrainian refugees.
“Friendship Exchange is something additional,” said Jankowski. “It’s like dessert.” He says there are differences in the way Rotary meetings are run here but the” atmosphere and spirit are the same.”
(Photo - Poland Governor Piotr Jankowski)
Although he was excited about his trip to the US, his homeland and the war going on across the border is heavy on his mind. To give one an idea of how committed Jankowski is to these war relief efforts, consider the fact that he went on hiatus from his construction career to lead Rotary’s humanitarian efforts in Poland because “refugees are pouring in,” he said.“I’m in construction but this year I have suspended all of my activities,” he explained. “I don’t earn any money. I have no time for that.”
Jankowski describes Rotary as a “great family” present in 200 countries, and he thanks all American Rotarians for helping to fund relief efforts. “Without your help, we cannot do anything,” although he says all 80 Rotary Clubs in Poland offer support in some way to the widows and orphans coming across the border. He says Poland’s assistance began as soon as the war broke out.
“We run to the border on the first day, opening our hearts, homes and wallets to these refugees,” said Jankowski.
“The most important thing is using funds and sending it directly to Ukraine,” he says. “Rotary can do a lot. We change the world for one family, mothers, and children.”
Although the situation on the ground appears to get worse and worse, Jankowski says the Ukrainians are “very brave and will not surrender.”
(1st Photo Left - Preparing a meal together with members of the Olsztyn Varmia Rotary Club; 2nd Photo Right - Masha (15), Rotarian Wojtek and Masha’s mother. Masha and her mother are Ukrainian refugees sponsored by the Olsztyn Varmia Rotary Club. Masha is an accomplished singer, and RFE trip participant Dan Drozdowicz of the Janesville Noon Rotary Club has, if all the puzzle pieces fall in place, organized a Rotary Youth Exchange position for her at the Parker High School Arts Academy in Janesville for the 2024-25 school year.)