November 22, 2024, Kumppanuuskeskus, Oulu
The workshop and author meeting with Hanna Ruszczyńska was a remarkable experience for both children and adults.
Her book Sirkka, the Girl Who Became the Ruler of Itakäiry is a beautiful story about Finland, its ancient legends, and the extraordinary person – the titular Sirkka. The book, written in Polish and adorned with beautiful illustrations, is a wonderful example of the blend of Polish and Finnish cultures.
Hanna Ruszczyńska shared with us the process of creating the book and discussed who can become a writer. We had the opportunity to listen to several Finnish legends and other interesting stories, as well as create our own during the thematic workshops.
The biggest surprise of the evening was the visit of Sirkka Ikonen, the title character of the book Sirkka, the Girl Who Became the Ruler of Itakäiry! She personally told us about her extraordinary life and signed many copies of the book by Mrs. Ruszczyńska.
As always, there were delicious treats for everyone, and as a souvenir of the meeting, Mrs. Ruszczyńska left two original illustrations from her book for the Association of Poles in Northern Finland. We are very grateful for this beautiful gift!
This extraordinary meeting with Polish children’s literature was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland as part of the “Polonia and Poles Abroad 2024” program and with the support of the city of Oulu.
We would like to thank all the participants and involved institutions for their support and presence. Thanks to you, such events are possible!
The following photos were taken by our volunteer – Marcin Selent (jr-studio.com).
