Janina Maria Ochojska-Okońska (Polish pronunciation: ; born 12 March 1955) is a Polish

humanitarian Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotional ...

social activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

and

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, g ...

, who serves as a Member of the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...

(2019–present). She is founder and director of the

Polish Humanitarian Action The Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH, pl. ''Polska Akcja Humanitarna'') is a Polish non-governmental organisation A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see American and British English spelling differences#-i ...

(PAH) (1992–present).

Life

She graduated from High School No. 1 in

Zabrze Zabrze (; German: 1915–1945: ''Hindenburg O.S.'', full form: ''Hindenburg in Oberschlesien'', Silesian: ''Zŏbrze'', yi, זאַבזשע, Zabzhe) is an industrial city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Sil ...

. In 1980, she graduated in astronomy from the

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń or NCU ( pl, Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, UMK) is located in Toruń, Poland. It is named after Nicolaus Copernicus, who was born in Toruń in 1473.Polish Academy of Sciences The Polish Academy of Sciences ( pl, Polska Akademia Nauk, PAN) is a Polish state-sponsored institution of higher learning. Headquartered in Warsaw, it is responsible for spearheading the development of science across the country by a society of ...

in the Nicholas Copernicus Astronomical Center in Torun. As a student she was active in the Academic Ministry... From the late 1970s, she was associated with the democratic opposition; she cooperated with the independent Social Library of Antoni Stawikowski. She joined "

Solidarity ''Solidarity'' is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. It is based on class collaboration.''Merriam Webster'', http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio ...

", after the introduction of martial law engaged in the distribution of underground publications, as well as the activities of the local committee dealing with the assistance of victims of repression and their families. She was disabled from early childhood (

Polio Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...

). As she mentions, she owes acceptance of her disability to a stay at the Treatment and Education Center for Disabled Children, led by doctor Lech Wierusz. In 1984, she went to France for surgery. There she came across the idea of humanitarian aid. As a volunteer she was active for the EquiLibre foundation, searching for contacts and coordinating assistance for Poland. In 1989, she was one of the founders of the Polish branch of the EquiLibre Foundation. In 1992 she organized a convoy of Polish aid for the former Yugoslavia. In 1992, she also founded the Polish Humanitarian Action, where she assumed the post of president. In 1996, she married Michał Okoński, a journalist from ''

Tygodnik Powszechny ''Tygodnik Powszechny'' (, ''The Common Weekly'') is a Polish Roman Catholic weekly magazine, published in Kraków, which focuses on social, cultural and political issues. It was established in 1945 under the auspices of Cardinal Adam Stefan Sap ...

'', but the marriage ended in divorce. In 2000, an extended interview with Janina Ochojska was conducted by Wojciech Bonowicz and published as a book (''Heaven is different''), then in 2015 another one, conducted by Marzena Zdanowska (''The World According to Janka'').

Awards and honours

* Honorary Citizen of Warsaw (2018) * Commander's Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta ( pl, Order Odrodzenia Polski, en, Order of Restored Poland) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on al ...

awarded for outstanding services in building a civil society for achievements in professional and social work undertaken for the benefit of the country (2011) *

Bene Merito honorary badge The Bene Merito honorary distinction ( pl, Odznaka Honorowa „Bene Merito”) is a departmental (ministerial) decoration of Poland. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland awards the citizens of Poland and foreign nationals with this decorat ...

(2009) *

Józef Tischner Józef Stanisław Tischner (12 March 1931 – 28 June 2000) was a Polish priest and philosopher. The first chaplain of the trade union, " Solidarity" (Polish ''Solidarność''). Life Tischner was born in Stary Sącz to a Góral family and gr ...

Award (2006) *

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...

(2003) *

Pax Christi International Peace Award The Pax Christi International Peace Award is given out every year since 1988 by the Christian peace organisation Pax Christi to other peace organisations and peace activists. The focus lies on grassroots activists and organisations that are active ...

(1995) * Order Ecce Homo *

Order of the Smile The Order of the Smile (Polish: ''Order Uśmiechu'') is an international award given by children to adults distinguished in their love, care and aid for children. History The idea of the Order of the Smile was established in 1968 by the Polis ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ochojska, Janina Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń alumni Polish humanitarians 1955 births Politicians from Gdańsk Living people MEPs for Poland 2019–2024 People with polio

Life

Awards and honours

See also

References