Lawyer, Volunteer, Founder NGO, Doctorate Candidate, Warsaw, Poland

While in Poland I found myself assembling school backpacks for Ukrainian kids living in the refugee shelters. It was May 2022 and new Ukrainian families, fleeing from Russia’s bombs and barbaric Russian soldiers, kept arriving in Poland. Kids and mothers were wide-eyed and feeling lost in their new reality, surrounded by a different language and customs. Women and kids would panic in the middle of the night during thunderstorms in a post-traumatic panic, fearing dropping bombs; they ran out into the rain, with nothing but slippers and nightgowns, and each other.

Katarzyna Kalicka’s big-hearted volunteer initiative, called Wyprawiamy Dobro (which means “We Celebrate the Good”), captured my heart with its simple yet powerful goal: to ensure that the school-aged Ukrainian children attend their first day of school in Poland with dignity. Brand new backpacks are stuffed with school supplies, personal hygiene products, snacks and are delivered to the shelters and orphanages throughout Warsaw. Katarzyna’s thoughtful idea helped hundreds of mothers check at least one item off their already long to-do list.

Ms. Kalicka-Lots is running this entire operation out of her garage (where she assembles the backpacks with the help of her husband and friends). Katarzyna is yet another example of the incredible Polish unity in the face of the Russia-Ukraine war; she is the embodiment of how Polish people opened their hearts and extended helping hands to a struggling neighboring nation.

1. Name.

Katarzyna Kalicka-Lots.

2. Where is your hometown?

Warsaw, Poland.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?

I am a lawyer and work in a notary's office on a daily basis. However, after hours I am doing a doctorate in economic criminal law. I am also a founder of a charitable foundation, Wyprawiamy Dobro (which means “We Celebrate the Good”). In my spare time I devote myself to helping refugees from Ukraine. Examples of what I’ve been doing with Wyprawiamiy Dobro are collecting, assembling, delivering school kits for the Ukrainian kids, to relieve some financial burden on their mothers.

We get in touch with a shelter housing Ukrainians, fundraise for the kids of school age, fill the backpacks with the needed materials and deliver them right to the shelter. We want the kids to attend their first day in a new country with dignity. That starts with having a cool school bag filled with pencils, calculator, notepads and some personal hygiene products. Here is an example of the fundraiser I put together.

4. What did you study in school?

I studied law. I am currently writing my PhD thesis at the Faculty of Criminal Law. My thesis is about economic espionage.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? What was the moment for you that changed your life that set you on the current path in life?

As a teenager, I was a promising tennis player. In fact, tennis training filled all my time for many years. Absolute dedication to training paid off with many tournaments wins and top spots in the rankings of Polish female players. Unfortunately, shortly before signing one of the most important contracts, I became ill. Since then, I have already undergone several surgeries.

Now I am a significantly disabled person. The illness excluded me completely from my dream of a tennis career. I had to search for a new goal all over again. Then I decided that one day I will become a lawyer and have my own foundation to help those in need.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

At 20 years old, I knew my goals well and was slowly working toward achieving them. Today, I am happy that I managed to achieve most of them.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

A series of surgeries and a disability were a painful blow to a young person. Being an athlete taught me to pursue my goal despite the pain and all the adversities. Today I know that I am able to overcome most difficulties that I may encounter on my life path.

8. Advice for other women?

I don't want to give advice. Something completely different may work for everyone. I can only say that in my case, thanks to not giving up in the difficult moments, I managed to work out my own happiness.

9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?

At the present time, we still see a lot of inequality. It's not just about unjust laws, but also the patriarchal culture that needs to be fought every step of the way. I believe that the fight for one's rights never ends. The moment you think it's over and relax, you may lose everything you've worked so hard to achieve. 

Freedom and equality are never given, nor are the earned forever. They constantly need to be defended.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

My happy place is to be at home with my family.

11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

As president of the criminal law research club, I have an opportunity to teach children. We run a program in which children take on the roles of parties in the court proceedings. In this way, they learn about the rule of law.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

Finish my PhD and continue my scientific work at the university. In the professional sphere, I would like to become a notary public in the near future.

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

I' m happy to be where I am at the moment. I think everything I've been through has shaped me this way and I wouldn't want to change anything.

15. What/who inspires you?

Since I was a child, I have been inspired by the force of personality displayed by Serena Williams.

16. What are you hopeful about?

In the current situation where the war is taking place right on the border of my country and every day there are new people affected by this conflict, I hope that this war will end as soon as possible.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life? How did the global pandemic and war in Ukraine change your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

I think the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have changed my approach a lot. Now I enjoy every day. I appreciate the time I spend with my family. I feel that it's not worth planning for the distant future just to live today.

What do you want the world to know about Ukrainians and Ukrainian women in particular?

The fact that they are so brave. That they strive every day to fight for their children. That they try to find themselves in a new reality.

18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?

Ambition, compassion, and most important kindness. I think the most wisdom in life comes precisely from simple kindness.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

Currently, most of my time is devoted to books related to my scientific work. I no longer have opportunities to read novels. If I were to recommend books to others, I would like everyone to familiarize themselves with the works of Polish Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk.

21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?

I think my sisters and my mother. My younger sister because she fights cancer so bravely and perseveres and that she doesn't give up and my older sister because thanks to her I can do such wonderful things and that she is part of our foundation.

And my mother because without her I wouldn't be who I am now, she is the one who shaped me.

22. Where can others find you/your work?

Links to my organization Wyprawiamy Dobro are:

Facebook: Wyprawiamy-Dobro & Instagram: @wyprawiamydobro

Bonus Quick Round Qs:

1. What and who is worth suffering for? It's always those who cannot defend themselves.

2. What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you? Since I got sick my diet has been very restrictive. If there were no consequences, I would eat fast food.

3. Who is/are your mentor/s (men or women)? My father.

5. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be? I think I would choose to be myself.

6. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be? This is a very difficult question. I guess when I first met my husband, which was when I was 24, it was a wonderful time

7. What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most about other people? I admire people who can think of others and try to help weaker people. On the other hand, I hate false people who think only of their own benefits.