Testimonies – Polish refugees in Africa

Krystyna describes her childhood in the Polish refugee camp of Tengeru in East Africa – the huts, the jungle and climbing trees.

Krystyna explains that her grandfather was an officer who was killed by the Soviets but that his body was never found.

Kazimierz explains how communication between the soldiers and their families was a priority, and describes life for them in Africa.

Wanda describes the freedom that the children enjoyed in Africa, and the adventures that they enjoyed.

Wanda tells how malaria was an ever-present fact of life, since it was impossible to escape being bitten by mosquitoes, even though they used DDT.

Kazimiera recalls life in Africa, from the perspective of a very young child.

Describing how life developed in Ifunda, with schools and activities for the youth, including the fact that boys his age were constantly leaving to join the cadets, but his mother …

Irena describes how they cooked their meals, what the huts were like, and other details about life in Masindi.

Daniela describes what life was like for a child in Tengeru, Africa.

Daniela describes how they lived in Tengeru, Africa.

Daniela describes what the funerals were like in Tengeru, Africa.

Describing how his mother became ill in India and was hospitalized, while he and his sister were sent to the orphanage. When his mother was better, they were sent to …

Describing how he kept bees, a rabbit and other critters while living in Masindi.

Describing how there were different days for boys and for girls to swim, so that they were never in the lake together.

Describing how they would put on plays in Tengeru. Also how they would attend the screening of a film every two weeks. And how the children were always hungry.

Explaining how the children were carefree and unconcerned with the worries of the adults, and how they would eat what they found growing wild in the jungle.