O łataniu rzeczywistości: Siostra Małgorzata Chmielewska at TEDxWarsaw

Translator: Krystyna Wasilewska

Reviewer: Kinga Skorupska I disliked this world

when I was younger. And I still do not like it. Besides its incredible beauty, it is also despicable and nasty. Throughout my life,

I came across situations, and prophets that guided me to this moment in life and, I hope, will continue

to guide me in the future. Many years ago

at the end of the Communist Era in the Jesuits' Church in Warsaw,

at the last holy mass at 8 o'clock pm, after devoted prayers, I was leaving the church

with my dear friend, whose son is sitting in the audience,

a big-boned man, who is listening now. But back then,

he was not yet in the picture. Not me, but Tamara said,

"Listen, we're simply hags" After getting out we could come back

to cozy homes and warm beds. However, homeless women

who sat in the church, warming up inside,

were going to the street and dumps. There were only two of us

with absolutely nothing. Not a penny or a flat. We were subletting an already rented room. But we have decided

to make a change back then. The whole story is too long, however, 7 homeless shelters

have been created until now. They are visited

by more than 1,000 people a year. Including young mums,

the homeless, the sick and the disabled. People, who are unwanted. Of course, now

there are others besides us. I recall one memory

from our first empty house. We had no money for bread

and the heater broke down It was in Bielsko-Biała city,

in an old hovel. There were about 30 homeless people,

men and women. We were sitting around the table

and suddenly Tamara spoke, "Stop worrying you all,

it is a story for a book." They were all howling with laughter,

as I remember from back than. Poor people without a thing, even hope; It was cold, a blizzard outside, no food,

but they mentioned a bestseller about us. A few have been written. Well, it is also not so... You can see the scene from our shelter

for the homeless and the sick which I love more than life itself! So it's not so that we do it alone. We only create a space, where people forgotten by the society,

outside social, cultural, educational, material and spiritual life can find their own place. In fact, they pull us through. The one on the top is a manager of the shelter pulled by a disabled man. The wish to change this world

into one I would like is also shared by my colleagues, brother and sisters; we want that the gap between people, who are disadvantaged

in life by birth or circumstances, to be mended. Those without a glimpse of hope, should at least die with dignity. Those, who cannot feed themselves, should eat peacefully. Not the able-bodied work here, but the needy feed the needy. In our shelter, similar to other places, we have 90 ill people:

bed-bound, dying, disabled, the personnel is only composed

of five paid members. Others are volunteers. In this way, we are one

and we regain our dignity. Here in the audience

is my co-worker, Tomek's mum and the women from one of the shelters. We all live together. At one stage of our life together, we had opened a shelter in a village,

and the neighbors started to visit us. They were asking for bread,

ever so embarrassed. Firstly though, they wanted a job. We could not give them a job. Once again, we started brainstorming. It is an uneasy thought,

when sharing food with others we realise that a free man

is a man with money who can spend it however he likes. Now we have four workshops

where young people work. Not only young, but those

without any job prospects. Or those without any skills. Świętokrzyskie area has one of the highest

unemployment rates in Poland. Young people who build

and renovate the project houses and, as you will see later,

the houses of other people, gain skills, learn a profession

and we can employ them. Leaving our workshops,

they receive a certificate of work. Only 20% of the EU money

goes to those in real need. The rest is devoured

by bureaucracy and institutions, which utilize it excellently

for themselves, sponsoring hundreds of thousands

useless courses that won't get you a job. We hire straight away: Carpentry shop, fruit and vegetable processing company. We started food processing

using frying-pans and pots, on a gas stove with three burners

in my small flat. That is how the ladies started

our food processing company. Today it is winning awards. We produce jam jars in thousands

in a completely traditional way. Sewing workshop, where we make

the most beautiful clothes in Poland. There, previously unemployed women, not only learn their trade,

but also produce outstanding clothes. As it is not about a homeless person

producing a worthless piece of cloth, getting pennies out of pity. It is about the satisfaction

from a job well done. I met kids in the countryside,

where an off-license shop and a bus stop served as a youth club -

all over the country. We were given old buildings

which everybody claimed were no good

and should be demolished. We met with the village leader

and the local community to discuss what's going to be in these buildings. To be honest, I was skeptical

that it was doable. I mentioned an after school club,

including ping-pong, pool tables and all that jazz, plus PCs,

activity classes, 3 football pitches other ideas like a playground

and a kindergarten. It was four years ago.

I did not believe, we could achieve that. To be honest,

I was bluffing a little bit, so the locals wouldn't rebel against me. (Laughter) I think that God will kick me

up the bum one day and say, "Woman of small faith!" And God has showed me. There is the youth club with classes. There are summer camps for kids,

who have never been on holiday. There is a kindergarten,

as good as the ones in Warsaw with only one difference,

namely, this one is free. People cannot afford to pay, but still kids can attend English lessons. Here you can see a music class. They have professional teachers. There are football pitches. There is a cycling route

and two playgrounds; swimming lessons and other stuff that I wouldn't even dare to dream about. I don't know how.

Don't ask me, please. I simply followed my heart. When you follow your heart

you will exceed the limits of your fear, and will find people and resources. When you start to overthink,

you are doomed. (Laughter) One year ago we visited...

(Applause) Please, there is no time!

(Laughter) By coincidence, in the same village

we came across a family with six kids, living in one room with snow on the floor. My, let's just say, upset colleagues, that were swearing left and right

as if ready to attack came to see me and said

that this was unthinkable. So I said we'll build it. That is how it was. A half-built house, with one room,

you can't see it here. The roof wasn't finished, it was leaking. That is how it is today. Without a penny, we said we would fix it. We went to these people to convince them as they were suspicious. We persuaded them

to let us build them a proper house. Now they have two bedrooms

with a kitchen, central heating, and a loft, they can develop. What's more, as the parents are helpless, but a loving family - they have a family assistant,

who we have employed. As we decided that

we are not going to fight the system but we will build our own. We will build the Republic of the Poor,

where everybody can find a place. And we will continue

to build this Republic until certainly somebody

puts us behind bars. I am not sure if you are aware

that keeping pigs by that poor family

or other one is illegal! A poor man does not

have the right to keep pigs. Since keeping pigs means

that you have to slaughter them. to do that you have to take them

to a slaughterhouse. Excuse me, how, on a bike?! There is no place in the system

for the weak ones. We are trying to find this space for them

and it is something of a miracle that this space is still expanding. Even though, we still have nothing. And I wish you all, that kind of courage that I have mentioned a few minutes ago. To exceed the limits

and be spiked with a tad of insanity. (Applause)