jarek
April 13: We hopped on a train… and not just any train… the INTERCITY at 1:10 PM, and headed off toward Warsaw. The journey was cool – numbered seats, everyone had a place to sit, and we even had those fold-out tables. We reached Warsaw Central at 5:48 PM and from there, we caught the train to Białystok. Waiting for us at the station in Białystok was NINA, an Esperantist with a capital “E” We gave her a warm welcome, and Nina led us to the bus stop and walked us all the way to the Hotel IBIS, where we were “sorted” into double rooms. We made plans for day two of our trip, which was April 14.
. April 14, 2026: The group kicks off their adventure to discover the treasures of the Podlasie region.
Nina Pietuchowska took on the role of our tour leader and guide; she’s an Esperanto teacher for various courses and events like SES, BET, Italian Congresses, and so on.
Białystok is the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship—an administrative, economic, cultural, and scientific hub. It’s a city where different cultures and traditions blend together, and where you can try all sorts of flavors. It’s also the city of Ludwik Zamenhof. This is where the famous doctor and creator of Esperanto was born. Today, Nina is leading us along the Esperanto and Multi-Culture Trail—she tells us stories about the history of the places we pass: the school where he started his education before moving to Warsaw, his family home, and the house of Jakub Szapiro, another important Esperantist. We’ll see the iconic Kościuszko Market Square and historic temples…
We visited the Ludwik Zamenhof Center, which has a rich collection from that era in the exhibition called “Young Zamenhof’s Białystok.” Then we headed toward the Branicki Palace, the “business card” of Białystok. Even from a distance, the “Gryf” Great Gate and the impressive Baroque Palace—often called the “Versailles of the North”—catch your eye. The lavish interiors, the French-style park and gardens, and the museum’s rich collections are absolutely captivating. This is also where the Medical University and the Museum of Pharmacy are located.
April 14 marks the 109th anniversary of Ludwik Zamenhof’s death. Our group was invited by the Białystok Esperanto Society and the Białystok Cultural Center to honor this anniversary. Flowers were laid at the monument of the Patron of Esperanto. There were speeches by organization representatives and a commemorative group photo. We also documented our meeting with another group photo at the “Young Zamenhof” monument.
We ended the packed program of our first day in a lovely atmosphere, meeting with local Esperantists at their headquarters. Even there, our tireless guide Nina shared her archives and stories from the history of her beloved city.
Day 2: This day was filled with two trips. The first was to Tykocin – a charming town about 30 km west of Białystok. There’s a late-Baroque church there (Holy Trinity). It has an imposing, monumental shape that really makes an impression. We toured the Great Synagogue, which is very well-preserved and has a large collection of Judaica. Right next to the synagogue is the Tejsza restaurant, which serves Jewish cuisine. In Tykocin, at the castle, King Augustus II established the Order of the White Eagle back in 1703—a monument commemorates this. On the other side of the Narew River stands a royal castle rebuilt by a private owner.
The second trip of the day was to Święta Woda (Holy Water), a spring with miraculous properties. There’s a “Hill of Crosses” there where pilgrims leave crosses behind. All of it is very moving. It was an intense day that left us with many positive impressions.
Day 3: We visited the town of Supraśl, located near Białystok.
It’s a lovely town known for its rich history, monuments, and unique atmosphere. Supraśl has a history dating back to 1501, when an Orthodox Monastery was moved from Gródek to the “Suchy Hrud” wilderness. Its founder and main benefactor was the Voivode of Nowogródek, Aleksander Chodkiewicz.
The legend regarding the monastery’s founding says that the monks from Gródek, after several days of prayer, let a wooden cross with holy relics float down the Supraśl River, asking Divine Providence to stop it in the place best suited for a monastery.
We started our tour with the Monastery of the Annunciation, one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in Poland.
It was founded in the early 16th century and was a major religious and cultural center for centuries. We were especially impressed by the rebuilt Church of the Annunciation, which was destroyed during WWII and then faithfully reconstructed. Unfortunately, what we saw was “only” a very precise reconstruction. Of course, it’s a religious Orthodox building, but it looks like a Gothic brick castle—built on a square plan with high walls and towers at the corners. The temple is stunning with its monumental architecture and beautiful interior, and it’s famous for the vivid frescoes covering the walls. The whole place radiates peace and is full of history. It is a male monastery, currently home to 10 Brothers. Brother Jan, our guide, impressed us with his massive historical knowledge, which he shared in a really interesting way, weaving in a lot of humor and modern-day references. No boredom here! The monastery itself made a huge impression on us.
The next stop was the Icon Museum (a branch of the Podlaskie Museum), located in the old Archimandrites’ Palace. It’s one of the most interesting places of its kind in Poland. The museum has a rich collection of icons from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, as well as fragments of 16th-century frescoes saved from the old church. The display includes about 300 icons, sacred objects, and unique frescoes that refer to church interiors, a hermit’s cave, or a village hut. Enhanced by special lighting, they are meant to help visitors understand the role (not just religious, but historical and social) of the icon in Orthodoxy. The museum collection consists of religious paintings, many of them very old and beautifully painted. The museum does a great job explaining how icons were made and why they are important. The vivid colors and amount of detail are surprising. The exhibition was prepared in a modern, multimedia way, making the visit very interesting and allowing us to get to know Orthodox culture better. The visit was quite a reflective experience.
Later on, we happily went with our guide Nina to the town center to see the Market Square. The square in Supraśl is well-kept and surrounded by historic buildings. There’s a peaceful vibe, and we had the chance to see the characteristic architecture of this resort town and learn its history. Of course, there was also time for “a little something-something” at a place Nina recommended called “Jarzębinka.” Our taste buds were 100% satisfied. We definitely didn’t go everywhere and didn’t see everything, but we simply ran out of time. During our walk through Supraśl, we also stopped at the Bucholtz Palace, the Jansen house and factory, and other interesting spots that Nina told us so much about. Thanks to this trip, we got to know the specifics of the region, see valuable monuments, and spend time in a beautiful, peaceful place. Supraśl was definitely worth visiting.
We ended the third day of our trip with a group dinner at the hotel restaurant. There were memories, poems, singing—a very nice atmosphere—and an exchange of gifts. Our dinner wouldn’t be complete without “our Nina,” who was with us from our very first steps at the train station on Monday evening. She served us with both her historical and practical knowledge, for which we thanked her heartily. It was solemn and joyful, and some of the ladies were already dreaming up plans for the next trip. Our President, Bożena, didn’t say “no,” so we’re hoping for another joint getaway soon.
Choosing a Dachshund as a travel companion was a major decision, which resulted in 4 people traveling by car instead of taking the train with the rest of the group. From then on, our only compass was a nose located 10 centimeters above the ground, and our daily schedule depended on the mood and stubbornness of the “princess.” Traveling with a “sausage dog” is an endless pleasure (and a bit of madness), and boredom is a thing of the past.
A dachshund is a miracle of engineering. It’s the only dog that can fit through the tightest aisle on a train, yet somehow manage to take up 110% of a hotel bed.
That’s where, when the cold hits you, the dachshund reveals its superpower as a deluxe heating system. In a car, it takes up very little space (vertically) and infinite space (horizontally). When traveling with a dachshund, you stop being an anonymous tourist. You become “that person with the long dog,” because dachshunds have a natural gift for winning people over – from police officers to strict receptionists. So:
If you have a dachshund dear,
roam the world and have no fear.
For there’s joy in every sense,
from that dachshund’s length immense.
And you’ll be doing just fine,
If he is with you all the time.
This report is a collective work of the trip participants.
. The next club meeting took place at MOK on 23 March.
The programme included a discussion of current matters related to the group’s trip to Białystok and Graz, as well as a film and a presentation.
In Białystok, the group, in addition to visiting the city and its surroundings and meeting with local Esperantists, will take part in a ceremonial laying of flowers at the monument of Ludwik Zamenhof on the occasion of the 109th anniversary of his death. The co organisers of the event are the city authorities.
The next item on the agenda was watching a film promoting Esperanto in a vivid and humorous way, prepared by our colleague Jarosław Szewczyk using Artificial Intelligence.
After the film, the participants listened to a lecture illustrated with period photographs, prepared by Bożena and Marian Kocyk, entitled “Love or the Throne”, about the most famous romance of the 20th century – that of the English king Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson.
We concluded the meeting chatting over coffee and tea.
Bożena Kocyk
The February CEM club meeting took place in an “African atmosphere” on 16 February of this year at the MOK cultural center. This was made possible thanks to the presence of guests who, through their stories, transported us to Tanzania.
Magdalena Tatara (an Esperantist from Kraków) and Robert Kamiński (President of the Main Board of the Polish Esperanto Association) participated in the 109th World Esperanto Congress, which took place from 3 to 10 August 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania – a historic event, the first of its kind on the African continent. Magda and Robert spoke in a very direct, warm, and engaging way about their journey to the congress venue, about Tanzania and Zanzibar, about the congress itself and its atmosphere, and about the places they visited. All of this was illustrated with photographs they had taken themselves.
Tanzania – the United Republic of Tanzania – is a country in East Africa formed from the union of former British colonies: Tanganyika (German until World War I) and British Zanzibar. This is symbolized by the name created from the first syllables of both countries: TAN + ZAN.
Zanzibar is an island in the Indian Ocean belonging entirely to Tanzania. While presenting the country, the speakers showed important landmarks as well as the everyday life of residents in places that are not wealthy but are colorful with stalls selling local products, where the main means of transport offered to tourists is the motorcycle.
The people of Tanzania are very friendly and open, as shown by their greeting “jambo” (“hello”) and the phrase “hakuna matata”, meaning “don’t worry” or “no problems,” often heard as a greeting or a response to everyday concerns. Although popularized by The Lion King, it is deeply rooted in East African culture.
. The congress was held at the International Conference Center (AICC) in Arusha, in a hall that can accommodate about 1,500 people. Around 700 participants from more than 60 countries attended, and the main theme was: “Language, people, and the environment for a better world”. Arusha is one of the largest cities in Tanzania (over 600,000 inhabitants), located near the border with Kenya at the foot of the majestic Mount Meru – the second-highest peak in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro. The city of Arusha is the starting point for safaris in northern Tanzania. This gave congress participants the opportunity to take a trip during which they could observe local wildlife from the car windows.
A particularly interesting place to visit was the National Natural History Museum, which features exhibitions on early humans, the plants and animals of the region, and the history of the city. On the museum grounds, a huge tortoise – around 200 years old – roams freely.
Another important site is the Cultural Heritage Centre, a large art gallery housed in an impressive building inspired by African symbols. The extensive museum complex presents a collection of African art, including wooden sculptures, statues, masks, paintings, furniture, tools, and traditional doors from Zanzibar.
Our guests also spoke interestingly about their visit to the cemetery of Polish refugees in Tengeru, in the Arusha region. This cemetery is the largest and best-preserved burial site of Polish citizens in Tanzania and in all of Africa. It is the resting place of 150 Polish exiles from World War II who accompanied General Anders’ Army on its journey from the Soviet Union to Iran and Palestine. They were transported and settled in British colonies, including the territory of then Tanganyika (now Tanzania). The refugees established settlements, the largest of which was in Tengeru, with about 5,000 inhabitants. The cemetery, like other Polish cemeteries in Tanzania, is maintained by the Polish Embassy in Tanzania and is very well cared for – which is exceptional compared to local burial sites, which are not preserved or commemorated in this way.
The organization of the trip to Tengeru was assisted by the then Vice-Consul of the Polish Embassy in Tanzania, Krystyna Fatyga, who also took part in the visit and recounted the cemetery’s history. The account given by our guests – enriched with many photographs and personal impressions – transported the meeting participants to another fascinating and, in many ways, little-known African country.
The congress held in Tanzania highlighted the growing interest in the language and the increasing role of Esperanto in Africa. The stories about the congress – which included scientific and cultural events, environmental initiatives, and ecumenical services – confirmed that it is an event promoting unity, cooperation, and Esperanto as a tool connecting people across cultural boundaries.
The presentation by Magdalena Tatara and Robert Kamiński was warmly received by the participants and rewarded with loud applause. During the meeting, the President of the Main Board of the Polish Esperanto Association, Robert Kamiński, presented brief information about the association’s activities and invited everyone to participate in the 43rd Polish Esperanto Congress, which will take place in Bielsko-Biała from 23 to 26 July 2026.
Maria Baran
“June kaj kune” is the first musical in history that was originally created in the Esperanto language — it is therefore not a translation of any other work.
Its premiere took place during the 78th International Youth Congress (Internacia Junulara Kongreso, abbreviated IJK). The title of the musical is also the motto of TEJO and means “young people together”.The story follows participants of a fictional International Youth Congress: some of them find love, others discover their current “place on Earth,” and still others receive unexpected help.
There is no single protagonist – the theme and the true “main star” of the show is the congress itself. 34 young people from 14 countries and 5 parts of the world joined forces to create this unique project. The performance was presented on 26 August 2022 at 20:00 during IJK 2022 in Westelbeers, the Netherlands.
To carry out this project, TEJO received funding from the Erasmus+ program under KA152. In addition, five other associations contributed to its realization: Catalan Esperanto Youth, German Esperanto Youth, the Italian Federation of Esperantists, EUROKKA, and the Polish Esperanto Association.
The entire musical and a list of individual songs are available for viewing on YouTube:
June Kaj Kune – La Muzikalo
Organizanto – June kaj Kune
Kantoj – June kaj Kune
Lidia Komar
Every year in December, to commemorate the birth of the creator of Esperanto, the Center for Intercultural Education (CEM) celebrates “Zamenhof Day.” This year, our celebrations took place on December 19, 2025. The event featured the traditional Zamenhof cake, tributes to our late friend Roman Dobrzyński, and the singing of Christmas carols in both Esperanto and Polish.
“Zamenhof Day” and the exhibition “Esperanto Beyond the Borders of Time and Space” (which had its official opening on November 7, 2025, at the Galician Town Hall in Nowy Sącz) were our two major events honoring Ludwik Zamenhof. Information regarding these initiatives was published on the global Esperanto platform, “Eventa Servo.”
The celebration at the Municipal Cultural Center (MOK) began with a welcome speech by Jolanta Kieres, Vice President of the CEM Board. Among the guests was Jadwiga Banach, representing the Board of the SUTW (University of the Third Age). While thanking for the invitation, she extended her heartfelt wishes for the continued success of our association and expressed her confidence in the ongoing cooperation between CEM and SUTW.
Jolanta Kieres provided a brief overview of the traditions and various ways Zamenhof Day is celebrated by Esperantists worldwide. Following this, the “Esperanto Anthem” was performed, accompanied by Alicja Skalska on the accordion.
The highlight of the meeting was a tribute to the late Roman Dobrzyński, an outstanding Polish Esperantist, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. Maria Baran delivered a lecture on his life and work, focusing particularly on his collaboration with the Esperantists of Nowy Sącz. Her presentation concluded with a poem by Halina Różanek, an Esperantist from Szczecin, read by Wanda Śmigielska. Halina wrote the poem in 2022 during our 30-person group’s visit to Germany.
The meeting continued with personal anecdotes from our members. Bożena Kocyk spoke about her private meetings and engaging conversations with Roman. She also presented several of his books, warmly encouraging everyone to read them. Alicja Skalska, Jolanta Kieres, and Lidia Komar also shared their personal memories of him.
The late Roman Dobrzyński – an eminent Esperantist, writer, filmmaker, and a kind-hearted man with a great sense of humor – remains in our hearts as a dear Friend.
During the event, students from the Esperanto language courses led by Jolanta Kieres performed a short, humorous sketch based on a text by R. Dobrzyński. The script was adapted by Ewa Merha, and the roles were performed by Zofia Homoncik and Wanda Śmigielska.
With Christmas approaching, the gathering joined in a choral singing of carols in Esperanto and Polish, again accompanied by Alicja Skalska. Christmas and New Year wishes were exchanged, with a particularly joyful set of wishes presented by Wanda Śmigielska. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, everyone enjoyed the traditional “Zamenhof Cake”.
Maria Baran & adm & AI
With great sadness we received the news of the passing of Roman Dobrzyński. He was for us not only a dear friend, but also a man of extraordinary sensitivity, intelligence, and sense of humor, which could brighten even the most difficult moments.
Roman was an outstanding Esperantist, whose passion for the Esperanto language turned into tangible works. He created books that not only promoted this language, but also showed its beauty and presence in the world, in people, cultures, and everyday stories.
Through his films he presented the activities of Esperanto communities on various continents, including Japan and Brazil, thereby bringing the idea of Esperanto closer to thousands of people and making the ideals of mutual understanding and openness more tangible.
We have lost not only a remarkable specialist and ambassador of the idea that unites people across borders, but above all a good, wise, and kind man. His creativity, work, and presence will forever remain with us — in our memories, conversations, and in his works, which will continue to inspire.
Museum of the Sądecki Region in Nowy Sącz, together with the Center for Intercultural Education, organized the exhibition “Esperanto beyond the boundaries of time and space”. The exhibition will last for three months and is located in the town hall building of the Galician Town. It was officially opened on November 7, 2025..
Panels in Esperanto and Polish, illustrating the life and achievements of Ludwik Zamenhof and providing many interesting facts about the Esperanto movement in Poland and abroad, were originally prepared in 2017 on the centenary of Zamenhof’s death. That year was declared by UNESCO as the Year of Zamenhof (alongside Tadeusz Kościuszko), following a proposal from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and indirectly from Polish Esperantists.
During that time, several years of efforts to include Esperanto on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Poland were finalized. One of the panels depicts the moment when the decision was handed over to Halina Komar and Kazimierz Krzyżak by the Deputy Minister of Culture.
Alongside the panels, a brochure featuring the same photos was published. The publishers were the Ministry of Culture, the Polish Embassy in Seoul, and the Center for Intercultural Education. The embassy in South Korea was involved because the World Esperanto Congress took place in Seoul in 2017, with over 1,000 participants from dozens of countries. The brochure was published in Esperanto and English to reach the widest possible non-Polish-speaking audience.
The opening ceremony program included an official welcome by the deputy director of the museum, a greeting from the president of the Center for Intercultural Education, and thanks to the museum staff for enabling the presentation of Esperanto achievements to a broader audience.
Special thanks go to Alicja Skalska, Maria Baran, Jarosław Szewczyk, and Marian Kocyk for their contributions to organizing the exhibition.
After watching a simulated greeting by Zamenhof himself (using Artificial Intelligence), we sang the Esperanto anthem accompanied by Alicja Skalska on the accordion.
Next, we listened to a lecture by Maria Baran titled “115 Years of Esperanto in Nowy Sącz”.
We learned many details about the activities of the local branch of the Polish Esperanto Association in Nowy Sącz, as well as the work of the Center for Intercultural Education, which has existed since 2012 as an independent non-governmental organization with a broader range of interests. In addition to Esperanto courses, we have added English language courses.
Finally, we raised a toast to the successful initiative and enjoyed a white-and-green cake – the colors of Esperanto. Guests could also view various types of Esperanto-language publications displayed in showcases.
Bożena Kocyk
