On 27 November 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, the Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Prof. Karol Polejowski, and the Deputy Director of the Institute’s International Cooperation Office, Mateusz Marek Ph.D., took part in the inauguration of the 2nd World Assembly of Presidents and Leaders of Polish Diaspora Organizations.
The Institute’s “Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom” flagship project was presented as part of the meeting with global representatives of the Polish community. The project, which tells the story of the Polish Armed Forces in the West and the thousands of Polish civilians who found refuge around the globe during World War II, was launched by the then-President of the IPN, and now the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki Ph.D.
Presidential Minister Agnieszka Jędrzak, responsible for the cooperation with the Polish diaspora abroad and state awards and nominations, presented the initiative as an example of a unifying policy of remembrance. She also reminded the gathered guests that the Institute is in possession of hundreds of exhibitions presenting various aspects of Polish history, which it is more than happy to make available to Polish communities abroad.
In his speech, Prof. Karol Polejowski spoke about the continuity of the remembrance policy pursued by the IPN for the past 25 years and assured the audience of a vision of protecting historical truth consistent with that of the President. He also mentioned specific actions undertaken by the IPN, including taking care of the graves of General Stanisław Maczek's soldiers at St. Barbara's Cemetery in Utrecht, where 88 Poles are buried. Thanks to a subsidy granted by the Institute of National Remembrance, the costs of the plot have been secured for the next ten years.
Mateusz Marek, Ph.D., the Deputy Director of the IPN International Cooperation Office familiarized the gathered guests with the “Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom” project, focusing on the scale and scope of the initiative and the fact that it has so far been presented in over 50 countries worldwide. He also talked about additional activities, such as educational workshops, commemorations or conferences which often accompany the inauguration of the project in a given location.
Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom website