Iwona Golińska – the voice of remembrance that connects generations | London, United Kingdom

In a time when current affairs often overshadow history, there are people who, with determination, remind us of its importance, not as a collection of dates but as a living legacy that shapes our identity. For years, Iwona Golińska has proven that preserving memory can become a mission that connects generations and strengthens bonds between nations.

In 2016, Iwona founded the Polish Sue Association to strengthen Polish-British relations and promote knowledge about Polish history, with particular emphasis on the fate of Poles in the United Kingdom. The organisation’s activities focus on commemorating heroes, organising patriotic and educational events, and documenting the testimonies of the Polish diaspora.

Thanks to Iwona Golińska’s commitment, numerous initiatives have been launched and have become permanent fixtures in the cultural calendar of the Polish community in the UK. Events such as "ORP Błyskawica Days," "Light a Candle for Polish Heroes in England," and commemorations of the Warsaw Uprising, the Katyn Massacre, and the Poles Who Saved Jews Memorial Day build a sense of community based on memory, respect, and pride in heritage.

In 2021, at Iwona's initiative, an exhibition was organised to accompany the unveiling of General Władysław Anders's bust at the National Army Museum in London. The ceremony was accompanied by a piano concert and an exhibition dedicated to the general. In the same year, Polish Sue produced a documentary film about the Katyn Massacre and its commemoration in Gunnersbury. In 2022, as part of Polish Heritage Days, a series of interviews and testimonies was created under the title "In the Footsteps of Anders," presenting the evacuation route of the army and civilians from the Soviet Union through Tehran, India, and Africa, all the way to the United Kingdom.

Thanks to the work of Iwona Golińska and her team, young members of the Polish diaspora have the opportunity to learn not only about grand historical events, but also about the personal stories of their ancestors. The organisation collects the accounts of the so-called "Anders’ Children" – including Danuta Pniewska, Bolesława Oleszczuk, and Elżbieta Wernik – showing that history has a face, a voice, and emotion.

Iwona Golińska is not only an organiser but a guardian of memory, whose passion inspires others to act. Her work is a bridge between past and future, between Polish heritage and British reality, between generations. Her nomination for the Inspiration Star award is a tribute to a woman who, with great dedication, creates a space in which history becomes alive, personal, and essential.