For four days, Warsaw will become the capital of young Poles from all over the world. From July 17–20, the SGGW Campus will host Polonia_Camp 2025 — a first-of-its-kind event dedicated to people of Polish descent, aged 18–30, living outside Poland. The rich program will combine debate, culture, sports, and networking. Organizers expect around 1,000 participants from nearly 50 countries.
Identity, Opportunities, Engagement
The Polonia_Camp 2025 program is built around three main themes. The first — “Generation P: Between Tradition and Trends” — will focus on the identity of young people of Polish descent. “We want to give them a space to talk about what folk art means and what their roots represent. We hope they’ll find strength in them,” says Małgorzata Kopka-Piątek from the Institute of Public Affairs, co-organizer of Polonia_Camp 2025, in an interview with Family News Service. This track will also include panels on the role of sports in the lives of Poles abroad, featuring Olympic and world champions.
The second focus area— “Poland Within Reach” — will highlight educational and professional opportunities available in Poland. Participants will learn how to study in Poland, apply for internships, or even start their businesses. “This program track is about what Poland can offer in terms of universities, the economy, government institutions, and scholarships dedicated exclusively to people of Polish descent,” explains Kopka-Piątek.
The third theme — “Active Polonia” — will focus on community service and educational initiatives within Polish communities abroad, from teaching the Polish language to civic engagement. Panels will feature politicians of Polish descent from various countries, aiming to show that Polish roots can be an asset in public life.
Meetings, Culture, Sports
Beyond debates and workshops, Polonia_Camp 2025 will offer a vibrant cultural and sports program. Guests will include renowned painter Rafał Olbiński and linguist Professor Jerzy Bralczyk. “We want this to be a moment of genuine connection with Polish culture. We’ve invited writers, there’ll be a monodrama about Wojtek the bear, and evening concerts featuring artists like Natalia Przybysz, Justyna Steczkowska, and the group L.U.C.,” says Kopka-Piątek.
There will also be dance workshops with instructors from the Mazowsze Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, cooking classes (including pierogi-making), and sports events — a run with Olympian Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik and a soccer match refereed by Szymon Marciniak. “We’re organizing a serious race, with a start line, a finish line, medals, and prizes. I’ve already seen a lot of people signing up,” the organizer says enthusiastically.
The Voice of Young Poles Abroad
Polonia_Camp 2025 will also be a space for dialogue and sharing experiences. Organizers have invited young participants to help shape the panel discussions so they can voice their needs and ideas for working with partners in Poland.
“We want to hear directly from our participants. This is the first edition, so we’ll be paying close attention to what works and what we’ll need to adapt,” emphasizes Kopka-Piątek.
Around 1,000 participants from 46 countries are expected at Polonia_Camp 2025. “We know every community of Poles abroad is different — from multi-generational families to those who have only recently moved abroad. We’re doing our best to make sure everyone finds something for themselves here — whether they’re visiting Poland out of sentiment or considering a return,” says Małgorzata Kopka-Piątek.
photo: screen
Family News Service