Sebastian Zielonka carried out, as part of the “Save from Oblivion” project of the Aid to Poles in the East Foundation, a series of reports with a group of documentarians showing the personal experiences of the descendants of Poles deported to Kazakhstan. The repatriates who came to Poland after 1989 speak about Poland in this project with such love and tenderness that a question arises: who truly loves Poland? Those who are rediscovering it, or those who have lived here since birth?

Sebastian Zielonka:

I am a patriot; I feel it in my heart, I love my country. I am glad that I live in Poland.

Often, the Poles living in Kazakhstan are the third generation. It is difficult patriotism, involving considerable sacrifice.

In Kazakhstan, we travelled to places far from the cities. These people live in difficult conditions. We informed them about the possibility of returning. The Poles living there are discriminated against in some way.

Repatriates have been returning since the 1990s. Bolesławiec invited Mrs Ludmiła, who came and built a life for herself.

Even if they sell their house in Kazakhstan, they cannot afford to buy a house in Poland.

They come to Poland and have the conditions to develop and live with dignity. The conditions are much better than in Kazakhstan.

For them, an average life in Poland is like America in the 1980s was for us.

I value the courage and determination of those who want to come to Poland.

We wanted to show repatriates in different parts of Poland.

People already know that repatriates are Poles living outside the country and that they are now returning.

Poland has its advantages and disadvantages, but it is beautiful, and we should appreciate living here.

Sebastian Zielonka has completed many projects. The list of his publications is impressive:

The historian is also the author of publications related to our region: Kruszyn – An Extraordinary Place, Żeliszów Faithful to Its Roots and co-author/co-editor of: Monograph of the Primary School in Kruszyn in 1947–2017, Family Archive of the Western Lands and the film From the Eastern Borderlands to the Western Borderlands.