idea
The idea of the Plebiscite is to honour a woman whose social engagement or professional activities have made a special contribution to the development and promotion of Warsaw.
The Varsovian of the Year title recognises both; commitment to the Capital City and efforts to promote openness and tolerance as well as exceptional field-specific achievements and efforts to support women, the civic society and local communities in Warsaw.
In view of this year's celebration of the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union, and the 30th anniversary of the first free elections in Poland, we have also decided to award a special title of Varsovian of the Transition Period. The idea is to select community leaders from among women whose outstanding activities over the last 30 years have contributed to the major social transitions in freedom, equality and human rights.
From among the proposed candidates for the Varsovian of the Year title, the Jury will choose 10 candidates for the nomination.
Candidates for the special Varsovian of the Transition Period title will be proposed by the Jury members themselves, who will then choose five ladies to compete for the title.
The winners in both categories will be selected through public voting.
It is you, dear Varsovians, who will decide whom you wish to call Varsovian of the Year and Varsovian of the Transition Period!
nominations
Nomination for the Varsovian of the Year

Karolina Pacoń
She believes that we are all inherently predisposed to help others.She discovered that need in herself when she met a man who was short of money to pay for his dinner. more

Ewa Błaszczyk
Co-founder of the Akogo? Foundation. She is a renowned actress and singer, who claims to have been forced to overcome her inherent timidity when taking entrance exams to a drama school. She has always found human brain fascinating more
Katarzyna Homan
Local democracy and civic activist; culture animator and urban activist.She wants Warsaw to become a place friendly to all residents (especially young mothers) as well as a green city free from social and architectural barriers more

Urszula Nowakowska
A lawyer and a feminist, founder of one of the first organisations dealing with women’s rights – the Polish Feminist Association (Polskie Towarzystwo Feministyczne). more
Nicole Sochacki-Wójcicka
Gynaecologists and obstetrician pending specialisation, educator, Roger's and Gilbert's mum. In her blog mamaginekolog.pl she shares not only her medical knowledge, but also her personal experience related child care and treatment. more
Dr Bianka Siwińska
Doctor of political sciences, advocate for increased participation of women in technology development.Head of the “Perspektywy” Education Foundation, and Editor-in-Chief of a periodical of the same title. more

Julia Maciocha
Activist, member of the LGBT community, feminist. She has been socially committed from her early years.Warsaw has been her love at first sight and when commencing higher education, she chose the city as her own place to take action. more

Izabela Sopalska-Rybak
President of the Kulawa Warszawa Foundation, blog author, social educator and coach. When she was 19, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and decided that it was the best time to take action. more
Ewa Kulik-Bielińska
She needs a purpose in life, something that would go beyond her own life, and that is why she has been socially committed since her early years. more
Ewa Jurkiewicz
Conductor of amateur choirs in numerous cultural institutions operating in Warsaw.She began signing while dancing at the Song and Dance Group of the Warsaw University of Technology, which she had joined to get credits on her PE lessons. more
Nomination for the Varsovian of the Century

prof. Anna Dobrzańska
Medical Doctor, National Consultant in Paediatrics. She is the Head of the Department of Neonatology, Neonatal Pathology and Intensive Care in Warsaw, which she founded and organised. more
Krystyna Janda
Actress, director, author of lyrics, and founder of Fundacja na Rzecz Kultury Krystyny Jandy (Krystyna Janda's Foundation for Culture), who runs two Warsaw theatres – Polonia and Och-Teatr.She has been living her life to the fullest since her early years, trying to be active, and taking up every opportunity to introduce changes. more

Ludwika Wujec
A physicist, mathematician and teacher by profession, and activist for democracy and human rights by vocation.During the communist era, she cooperated with the Workers’ Defence Committee (KOR), and was one of the founders of underground press. more

prof. Ewa Łętowska
The first Polish Ombudsman, who gave the office not only the letter but also the spirit of the law.Between 1999 and 2002 she was judge of the Supreme Administrative Court, and later moved to the Constitutional Tribunal where she worked between 2002 and 2011. more

Krystyna Starczewska
Polish phiolologist, philosopher, educator, brought up in the spirit of Janusz Korczak's pedagogy. She was engaged in communist opposition in the communist-era Poland.She took part in the Round Table more
timeline
14 May – 16 June 2019 – submissions to the Varsovian of the Year plebiscite
26 June 2019 – Jury meeting
4 September 2019 – announcement of the candidates for the Varsovian of the Year and Varsovian of the Transition Period titles
4 September – 6 October 2019 – vote on the Varsovian of the Year and Varsovian of the Transition Period
9 October 2019 – announcement of the voting results and the official award-giving ceremony
jury
news
Voting in the Plebiscite has started! - September 4, 2019
We got to know the names of the nominees in the Varsovian of the Year 2019 Plebiscite, which will also award a special title: Varsovian of the Transition Period. From today you can also vote in a Plebiscite. Residents will decide which of the candidates will receive these awards. We are waiting for your votes until October 6th
Proceedings of the Committee - June 26, 2019
Different opinions, different personalities, turbulent discussion. Members of the Committee of the "Varsovian of the Year" Plebiscite met and debated on the candidates for this title. Their task is to select 10 nominees and to indicate five candidates for the special title "Varsovian of the Transition Period”, from which You choose the best two in the ballot. Who will be nominated by the Committee? You will find out in September!
Thank you for your application! - June 17, 2019
Over 1250 people presented their candidates! Thank you! Now, from among the 125 wonderful women indicated by you, the Committee of the Plebiscite will select 10 nominees. We will get their names in September. Then you will be able to choose the one and only, the one that is the most inspiring and committed to Warsaw.
Stay with us and join the event on Facebook.
Freedom: yesterday, today, tomorrow? - debate - 4 June 2019
On the 30th anniversary of the partly free elections of 1989, we discussed self-governance, democracy and human rights at the Idea Debate - Freedom yesterday, today, tomorrow? We were there with the “Varsovian of the Year” Plebiscite stand where we collected candidates' applications. In this jubilee year we will also award a special title - "Varsovian of the Transition Period”. It will be received by a woman who contributed to the development of values such as freedom and equality.
The "Women's Breakthrough" debate - June 2, 2019
This year's edition of the “Varsovian of the Year” Plebiscite runs under the sign of the 30th anniversary of the elections on 4 June 1989. We are at meetings, debates, especially those concerning women. The last 30 years have been the time of revealing women in public life. That was discussed during the History Meeting House debate "Women's breakthrough: Ludwika Wujec, Janina Jankowska, Joanna Szczepkowska, prof. Małgorzata Fuszara”.
We were also there with our stand and we collected candidates' applications for the “Varsovian of the Year” Plebiscite.
We are waiting for submissions to the Plebiscite - April 14, 2019
We have started the second edition of #WarszawiankaRoku(#VarsovianoftheYear) Plebiscite. We are looking for exceptional women who have a particular impact on the development and promotion of Warsaw - the City for Everyone. Women who promote tolerance, equality and democratic values.
- I am very happy that we are continuing our Plebiscite. The first edition showed the immense power of Warsaw’s women, the female DNA of our City. This is a way of saying thank you to the heroines of Warsaw for their commitment, everyday work, and often dedication to others - says Renata Kaznowska, Deputy Mayor of the City of Warsaw.
We are waiting for the application forms until June 16.
In view of this year's celebration of the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union and the 30th anniversary of the first free elections in Poland, a special title - "Varsovian of the Transition Period" will be awarded.
- I hope that just like in 2018, when we restored the memory of women who won our electoral rights a hundred years ago with the “Varsovian of the Century” Plebiscite, in 2019 we will not only bring many female figures of the Round Table to the Warsaw residents, but most of all we will bring these women out of the shadow of the history of June '89, says Ewa Malinowska-Grupińska, chairwoman of the Plebiscite Jury and the Warsaw City Council.
downloads
faq
- Who may propose a candidate?
- Who can become the Varsovian of the Transition Period?
- How can I propose a candidate for the Varsovian of the Year title?
- Who may vote?
- What are the voting rules?
- When can I vote?
- How can I vote?
- When will the voting results be announced?
- Why does the Plebiscite focus exclusively on women?