Jacek Fastyn - founder of the Polish Heritage Foundation in South Africa - won the honourable IPN "Ambassador of Polish History" award
18.10.2023
On October 17, 2023, the Institute of National Remembrance "Ambassador of Polish History" awards were presented. The ceremony took place at the Palace at the Royal Łazienki Park in Warsaw. Vice-President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Dr. Mateusz Szpytma, recalled that the place where the IPN awards were presented was a witness to history, including events such as the fall of the First Polish Republic, the outbreak of the November Uprising and the destruction of Warsaw in 1944-1945.
The award is intended for people and organizations from outside Poland. This honorary distinction, established by the President of the Institute of National Remembrance and awarded by the Institute of National Remembrance, is awarded to people and institutions who have made particular contributions to commemorating the history of the Polish nation and supporting the Institute in the implementation of its statutory activities in the educational and scientific areas.
This is an award for people and institutions involved in cultivating Polish historical memory, caring for the preservation, promotion and deepening of knowledge about the modern history of our country, as well as discovering forgotten facts or people who made great contributions to the Polish nation. The winner of the award may be a person of non-Polish origin. One can also apply for posthumous honours.
The Ambassador of Polish History is a continuation of the Witness of History award granted in 2015–2022 for people and organizations from outside Poland.
In 2023, the Institute of National Remembrance awarded the "Ambassador of Polish History" prizes for the first time. The award winners are:
- Anna Alwast - post mortem award
- Jacek Fastyn
- Artur Szulc
- Grzegorz Tymiński
- Apulian Polish-Italian Association
- Union of Poles in Italy
Mr. Jacek Fastyn is a recognized Polish activist who began his social work in 1984, when he emigrated from Poland to the Federal Republic of Germany. From 1986, he continued his involvement in the life of the Polish community in South Africa. He joined the Vaal Triangle Polish Union, which helped Poles emigrating to South Africa and, among others, it maintained national awareness and cultivated Polish holidays and customs. In 2002, he became a founding member of the Polish Heritage Foundation in South Africa (FDP), whose activities are strictly in line with the statutory mission of the Institute of National Remembrance. The Foundation collects, archives and digitizes documents and other archives documenting the activities of the Polish community in South Africa. Jacek Fastyn's perseverance and diligence in digitizing the FDP collections and archives as well as organizing exhibitions confirm his passion for discovering, preserving and disseminating Polish heritage abroad.
In 2000, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
Photo: Grażyna Koornhof/Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria
