Janusz MARSZAŁEK

Mayor of OświęcimAssociation of Polish Cities

Janusz Marszałek (personal)

• Born in Oświęcim, 1955;

• Married;

• Master’s degree in economy (economical cybernetics, informatics; Economical Academy, Cracow);

• 1975 – 1994 – employed in commercial Cooperative.

Janusz Marszałek (philanthropy)

• Since 1990 – organizer and head of Children’s Village (Kinderdorf) in Rajsko nearby Oświęcim;

• 1994 – 2002 – president of Maya Co., organized for support of the Children’s Village;

• Today there are 26 children in the Village;

• The Village is still enlarging;

• Engaged in other welfare activities.

Janusz Marszałek (politics)

• 1998 – elected member of Oświęcim County Council;

• 2002 – elected Mayor of Oświęcim (first direct election of mayors in Poland);

• 2006 re-elected Mayor for next term;• since 2007 – co-chairman of Polish-German

Committee (German Section of CEMR, Assn. of Polish Cities)

Auschwitz-Birkenau context

• Big challenge for the town – between future and history (developing for future and being very specific historical monument);

• Centres of Dialogue;• Town is the member of UN network Cities

Attorneys of Peace;• Difficulties in the relation: town – state museum

Auchwitz-Birkenau.

Auschwitz – Birkenau (2)with Henryk Mandelbaum at ruins of crematory