Marek Kotanski
Encyclopedia
Marek Kotański, was a Polish
charity worker and campaigner on behalf of disadvantaged people, including the homeless and those with HIV
. He died in a car accident in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki
, near Warsaw
.
and a psychotherapist - he organized many projects to fight against social problems and helped alcoholics, drug addicts, people with HIV
, ex-prisoners and homeless people. Among the organisations he created are Monar
and Markot
.
Born in Warsaw during the Second World War, Marek Kotański's mother, Ludwika, was a painter. His father, Wiesław, was a Japanese language
professor at Warsaw University. His house was open for everyone who needed help.
Already in high school Kotański launched initiatives to help people in need. From 1960 he studied psychology
at Warsaw University. During his studies, he was active in the Ruch Młodych Wychowawców (Movement of Young Educators) who looked after orphans and young people affected by social problems. After his studies, he worked as a therapist in the psychiatric hospital on Dolna Street in Warsaw
. He cooperated with the Społeczny Komitet Przeciwdziałania Alkoholizmowi (Social Anti-Alcoholism Committee), and also was active in the Ruch Trzeźwość (Abstinence Movement).
In 1974 Kotański was employed in the Psychiatric Hospital in Garwolin
, which had a section for drug addicts (even though during that period, for ideological reasons, drug addicts did not exist). Knowing that traditional methods were not effective, he started a therapy group. This sort of therapy group came to be known as "społeczność" (community). He also started the healing system for drug addicts known as "Monar
".
The first Monar
centre was opened on 15 October 1978 in Gloskow near Garwolin
, starting in part of an abandoned house in ruins. Kotański started this program with a group or patients from the hospital in Garwolin. The results were better than expected. Now there are more than 157 Monar
centres.
He also organised settlements for people with HIV
or ill with AIDS
, starting another association Solidarni Plus (Solidarity Plus).
From 1985-1994 Kotański organised the action "Łańcuch Czystych Serc" (Chain of Clean Hearts), where hundreds of thousands of young people joined hands in a chain stretching from the Baltic Sea
to the Tatra mountains
, symbolising unity for humanitarianism
. He also organised many "Czystych Serc" concerts where thousands of people participated.
In 1993 Kotański created Markot
- Ruch Wychodzenia z Bezdomności (Movement Out of Homelessness), which involves about one hundred centres for homeless people, lone mothers with children, handicapped people, and the terminally ill.
He also developed a help system for people coming out of prison
, starting from 1994, without any financial help.
Kotański received many prizes, including:
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
charity worker and campaigner on behalf of disadvantaged people, including the homeless and those with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
. He died in a car accident in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki
Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki
Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with ca. 42500 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Warszawa Voivodeship...
, near Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
Life
Kotański was a psychologistPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and a psychotherapist - he organized many projects to fight against social problems and helped alcoholics, drug addicts, people with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, ex-prisoners and homeless people. Among the organisations he created are Monar
Monar
Monar is an integrated system of human aid focused on drug addicts, the homeless, those who are HIV positive or who have AIDS, and many other groups of people who need help. This Polish non-governmental organization was established formally as an association in 1981.The origins of Monar lie in the...
and Markot
Markot
Markot is a Polish social movement, aimed at helping homeless people across Poland. It was founded by Marek Kotanski, a charity worker and campaigner on behalf of disadvantaged people and was based on an idea from late 1980s and early 1990s...
.
Born in Warsaw during the Second World War, Marek Kotański's mother, Ludwika, was a painter. His father, Wiesław, was a Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
professor at Warsaw University. His house was open for everyone who needed help.
Already in high school Kotański launched initiatives to help people in need. From 1960 he studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at Warsaw University. During his studies, he was active in the Ruch Młodych Wychowawców (Movement of Young Educators) who looked after orphans and young people affected by social problems. After his studies, he worked as a therapist in the psychiatric hospital on Dolna Street in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. He cooperated with the Społeczny Komitet Przeciwdziałania Alkoholizmowi (Social Anti-Alcoholism Committee), and also was active in the Ruch Trzeźwość (Abstinence Movement).
In 1974 Kotański was employed in the Psychiatric Hospital in Garwolin
Garwolin
Garwolin is a town on the Wilga river in eastern Poland, capital of Garwolin County, situated in the southeast part of the Garwolin plateau in Masovian Voivodeship , 62 km southeast of Warsaw, 100 km northwest of Lublin...
, which had a section for drug addicts (even though during that period, for ideological reasons, drug addicts did not exist). Knowing that traditional methods were not effective, he started a therapy group. This sort of therapy group came to be known as "społeczność" (community). He also started the healing system for drug addicts known as "Monar
Monar
Monar is an integrated system of human aid focused on drug addicts, the homeless, those who are HIV positive or who have AIDS, and many other groups of people who need help. This Polish non-governmental organization was established formally as an association in 1981.The origins of Monar lie in the...
".
The first Monar
Monar
Monar is an integrated system of human aid focused on drug addicts, the homeless, those who are HIV positive or who have AIDS, and many other groups of people who need help. This Polish non-governmental organization was established formally as an association in 1981.The origins of Monar lie in the...
centre was opened on 15 October 1978 in Gloskow near Garwolin
Garwolin
Garwolin is a town on the Wilga river in eastern Poland, capital of Garwolin County, situated in the southeast part of the Garwolin plateau in Masovian Voivodeship , 62 km southeast of Warsaw, 100 km northwest of Lublin...
, starting in part of an abandoned house in ruins. Kotański started this program with a group or patients from the hospital in Garwolin. The results were better than expected. Now there are more than 157 Monar
Monar
Monar is an integrated system of human aid focused on drug addicts, the homeless, those who are HIV positive or who have AIDS, and many other groups of people who need help. This Polish non-governmental organization was established formally as an association in 1981.The origins of Monar lie in the...
centres.
He also organised settlements for people with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
or ill with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, starting another association Solidarni Plus (Solidarity Plus).
From 1985-1994 Kotański organised the action "Łańcuch Czystych Serc" (Chain of Clean Hearts), where hundreds of thousands of young people joined hands in a chain stretching from the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
to the Tatra mountains
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
, symbolising unity for humanitarianism
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
. He also organised many "Czystych Serc" concerts where thousands of people participated.
In 1993 Kotański created Markot
Markot
Markot is a Polish social movement, aimed at helping homeless people across Poland. It was founded by Marek Kotanski, a charity worker and campaigner on behalf of disadvantaged people and was based on an idea from late 1980s and early 1990s...
- Ruch Wychodzenia z Bezdomności (Movement Out of Homelessness), which involves about one hundred centres for homeless people, lone mothers with children, handicapped people, and the terminally ill.
He also developed a help system for people coming out of prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, starting from 1994, without any financial help.
Kotański received many prizes, including:
- the Victor prize (received twice)
- the Brother Albert prize (nagroda imienia Brata Alberta)
- Order Uśmiechu (Order of the Smile) in the year 2000
See also
- MonarMonarMonar is an integrated system of human aid focused on drug addicts, the homeless, those who are HIV positive or who have AIDS, and many other groups of people who need help. This Polish non-governmental organization was established formally as an association in 1981.The origins of Monar lie in the...
- MarkotMarkotMarkot is a Polish social movement, aimed at helping homeless people across Poland. It was founded by Marek Kotanski, a charity worker and campaigner on behalf of disadvantaged people and was based on an idea from late 1980s and early 1990s...
- List of Poles