Oxford has welcomed 23 students and teachers from Jakub Jasiński High School No. V in Wrocław, Poland, as part of the Polish Culture Festival, from 19 to 21 September.
The visit, organised by the Polish School in Oxford under the leadership of Ms Marzena Henry, highlighted the value of city twinning, which Oxford has championed since the movement began following the Second World War.
The Well Wisher
On 18 September, the group was hosted at Oxford Town Hall by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Louise Upton. During the event, students presented the Lord Mayor with a newly published bilingual book, WROCŁAW–OXFORD: The Gnome Chronicles of Well-Wisher. Created with the support of the Mayor of Wrocław and the Polish Embassy in London, the book features Polish-English fairy tales about Życzliwek – the bronze dwarf whose name translates to “Well-Wisher” – a symbol of kindness who travels between partner cities. Oxford, Wrocław’s twin city since 2018, is home to its own Życzliwek statue in the Covered Market.
The stories and illustrations were created by students from Jakub Jasiński High School in Wrocław and the Brig. Gen. A. Maćkowiak Polish School in Oxford, with contributions selected through a competition earlier this year. The publication was illustrated by Anna Bednarczyk and serves as a cultural and educational bridge between the two cities.
The Lord Mayor awarded diplomas to the young authors during the inaugural Polish Culture Festival, in Greyfriars School on September 20th, in recognition of their creativity and contribution to international understanding. City councillors Sajjad Malik and James Fry, headteacher Mariola Kuźmicka-Mazurek, and community representatives joined the celebration.
Comment
"Oxford is a global, outward-looking city and was among the first to begin city twinning after the Second World War. We are proud of the links we have with all of our twin cities and believe international partnerships bring real benefits to our residents.
“This project with one of our newer twins, Wrocław, shows how stories and imagination can connect communities across borders – and even the smallest characters, like gnomes, can inspire lasting friendships. I hope the creative young people involved in this project stay in touch with each other for many years to come."
Councillor Louise Upton, Lord Mayor of Oxford
Oxford’s twin cities
Oxford is now twinned with seven cities: Bonn in Germany, Grenoble in France Leiden in The Netherlands, Padua in Italy, Wrocław in Poland, León in Nicaragua, and Ramallah in Palestine.
Twin city links give Oxford residents the chance to engage with other cultures and ways of life, and make these experiences more accessible through established contacts and networks in the linked cities. They also bring benefits to cities through knowledge-sharing activities, where people can learn from how problems are tackled in other countries, exchange ideas and understand different viewpoints.
The Gnome Chronicles of Well-Wisher is the latest example of Oxford’s international ties enriching local life, reflecting the enthusiasm of residents and partner cities alike to build bridges through culture and education.
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