Celebrating Solidarity in Gdańsk

(14:00) Visit to the European Solidarity Centre — This particular line on our ANM’s schedule initially left me quite indifferent, assuming we were about to visit the offices of a local administration promoting youth mobility or something else overly formal… But entering this impressive modern and massive museum, recognising the familiar red and white logos all around finally gave me an epiphany. Of course! Gdańsk — this is where the Solidarność movement started! 

As my history lessons were slowly coming back to me I followed a timeline that triggered some strong emotions.

 Step by step we were all able to learn once again about the events that lead to what remains today a striking example of solidarity in action, in this sanctuary, at the very place it happened. Learning in detail about the initial situation, the different key events, waves of repressions, but the still remaining thin red line of iron-solid solidarity between people, between nations, that ended up challenging History. 

In a time when the abstract idea of solidarity feels highly overused, overly mentioned, this immersion allowed me — and others, I dare to say — to reconnect with the basics of it, and realise the power that lies within. In this moment, our joint engagement in Europeer and solidarity projects felt even more meaningful.