History of Polish YMCA
The origins of the Polish YMCA date back to the Russo-Polish War in 1919-1920 when American volunteers came alongside General Haller's army to bring aid and comfort to the troops. Its popularity rapidly grew, especially amongst the young and when the volunteers left in 1923, the Poles created their own YMCA, affectionately called 'IMKA', primarily as a youth organisation.
From its inception its founders acknowledged that in Poland the YMCA would have a Catholic ethos while not excluding members of other communions. It's motto ' Serving Poland through Character, Education and Health' was very much in keeping with the country's needs. Its centres in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Lodz and Gdynia boasted swimming pools, theatres, gymnasia, clubs and hostels. The YMCA outreach programme helped the poor, the illiterate, the hungry and the out of work. Its beautiful campsites allowed it to organise regular summer and winter camps and various training sessions. It introduced and popularised volleyball and basketball, making them the country's most popular sports.
The rapid growth of the Polish YMCA as a self governing and independent organisation for the young and young at heart came to a sudden halt following the attack on Poland by Hitler and Stalin in1939.Although officially banned the Polish YMCA immediately began to help internees, refugees, POW's and Polish troops who escaped to other parts of Europe to form new army units in France, Great Britain and the near and Middle East. During the war it worked in 19 countries on 3 continents serving Polish troops, men, women and children. In occupied countries its members worked clandestinely.
The end of hostilities found Poland under the sphere of influence of the USSR under an imposed ideology. TheYMCA continued to work in Poland rekindling the spirit of young people devastated by the war until it was closed down by the communists in 1949, with many of its members suffering arrest and imprisonment. In the West it continued to serve the forces and countless refugees and displaced persons. It ran camps, hostels, clubs, canteens, libraries and shops. It had its own theatres and cinemas. It printed magazines and literary works. It retrained and prepared service personnel and the young for a civilian life.
The Polish YMCA , with its centre in London, continued to be recognised by the World's Alliance as the only national YMCA existing outside its homeland. It witnessed the downfall of communism in Poland and in 1990 its long time director Boleslaw Lesiecki MBE went back to Poland and met with the founding members of the reconstituted Polish YMCA in Warsaw. The organisation emerged in February 1990 based upon its pre war constitution and commenced activity in many cities. The process of regaining centres and property which had been unlawfully seized is only now beginning to bear fruit. The process will be a slow and painful one, but the growing popularity of the movement in Poland gives cause for optimism.
During the period when the Polish YMCA was absent in Poland it remained active and vigilant in Great Britain. Summer camps and various club activities remain to this day, living proof of the organisation's ability to survive and serve both the Polish and wider community.
In 1999 the organisation moved from its longstanding premises in Bayswater in Central London to the leafier suburb of Ealing in the western part of the capital. This new home is now the base for the Mazury Dance Company and its collection of costumes as well as for sporting groups plus clubs catering for enthusiasts of a variety of leisure pursuits .
The current Director of the Polish YMCA in London is Andrzej Lowczynowski and his work has been recognised by the Polish Government, awarding him the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland, presented in a ceremony at the Polish Embassy in London.
The Polish YMCA in London continues the great tradition of service to the community in general and young people in particular.