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If not for those ten... — presentation of awards
At the 66th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, the "If not for those ten..." awards were presented. This is a distinction awarded by the director of the Museum to volunteers and representatives of institutions each year for their support at the Memorial Site.
“The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum has been working with volunteers for several years. The work you are doing here, your commitment and willingness to help are truly remarkable. It was with you in mind, your outstanding volunteer work, that the "If not for those ten…” award was created,” said Andrzej Kacorzyk, deputy director of the Museum and director of the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. “Martin Luther King said that the most constant and important question in life is the question: What are you doing for others? — You, dear volunteers and coordinators, have already answered this question with your work and commitment to the Memorial Site,” added Kacorzyk.
Volunteers of the Memorial Site work in various parts of the museum, including the conservation and collections departments, at the Educational Centre, publishing house, library or the secretariat. Many of them support the Memorial Site remotely performing such translations and proofreading. Every year in various projects and volunteer programs at the Museum of hundreds of participants.
The Director’s Award of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum "If not for those ten …” is awarded annually on the anniversary of the Museum on July 2, 1947. It is an expression of gratitude for those who, through their work and activities, contribute to maintaining the memory of Auschwitz. Volunteers and volunteer coordinators are granted this award for their outstanding work. The award is presented in the form of a glass statue, accompanied by a formal letter. The front of the statues bear the inscription in Polish and English “If it were not for ten…”.
Laureates of the “If it were not for ten...” Director’s Award for 2013:
Bogumiła Bugajska and Marta Królikowska-Hardek
Teacher of German at LO im. S. Konarskiego in Oświęcim, volunteer coordinator for the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, as well as for guide at the Memorial Site. For several years, her attitude has motivated young people to help in such events as anniversary celebrations. Students under her care take keen interest in the issues of Auschwitz, trying their best to fulfil their tasks.
Ines Doberanzke;
Since 2002, Ines Doberanzke has been responsible for collaboration, on the German side, between the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and the Volkswagen Group (together with the vice-president of the International Auschwitz Committee, Christoph Heubner). Visits from German youth at vocational schools for practice at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum have been organised since 1987. The project, which is taken care of by Doberanzke, helps protect the authentic remains of the former camp.
Patrycja Duszyńska
Volunteer at the Memorial Site since 2011. She has helped in several departments and sections of the Museum, including the Secretariat, Publishing and Volunteer Bureau, undertaking a variety of tasks. She is very involved in her work, performing her duties efficiently and accurately. She also assisted during the 67th and 68 anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as supported the organisation of conferences and seminars.
Barbara Jędrzejewska
She participated in the preparation and handling of Council of Museums in September last year. Thanks to her commitment to the meeting, its organisation was of the highest standards, according to evaluations by both the director of the Museum as well as guests from ministries and directors of the museums participating in the event.
Dawid Przybyliński
Volunteer at the Memorial Site since 2009. During the course of volunteer work, he has recorded interviews with former prisoners within the framework of the project "Oral History". He has also performed transcriptions of relations and interviews in electronic form. When needed, he carried out interpretation and translation from Polish into French and from French into Polish. He also helped during the 65th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz.
Marita Rublova
She worked in the Secretariat of the Museum. Translated lectures from Russian to Polish and performed translation from Latvian for the Archives. The quantity and quality of the work by Marita Rublov for the Museum is deserving ;this award.
Rafał Saternus
Volunteer for the conservation section of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum since 2009, graduate of graphics from the University of Silesia. Currently, due to professional work, his support has been more rare, but on-going. He happily provided assistance during ceremonies held at the Memorial Site, including, among others, in the celebration of the anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz.
Stanisław Tlałka
Retired teacher from District Group No. 3 Secondary and Technical Schools. Pioneer for work of high school students at the Memorial Site. Founder of the Auschwitz Preservation Society educational circle, one of the tasks of which is cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. He organised sessions and scientific meetings of school youth with former prisoners. Along with the young people, he took part in the anniversary celebrations of the liberation of the camp.
Wanda Witek-Malicka
Mrs Wanda Witek-Malicka has assisted as a volunteer since 2006. She has been involved in the project “Oral History” from the very beginning, implemented by the Volunteer Bureau. Currently, she continues to record interviews with survivors and also helps in the preparation of events (taking part in the celebration of the anniversary of liberation from 2007). Currently, Mrs Wanda Witek-Malicka is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Silesia in Katowice and post-graduate student of “Totalitarianism — Nazism — Holocaust”.
