Lech Walesa

Lech Walesa is the former President of Poland and is probably best known as the leader of the Solidarity movement which led Poland out of Communism and played a significant role in the changing political landscape of Eastern Europe towards the end of the 20th century.

In 1990, he was elected President of the Republic of Poland, a position he held for five years. He has been granted many honorary degrees from universities, including Harvard University and the University of Paris. Other honours include the Medal of Freedom (Philadelphia, U.S.A.); the Award of Free World (Norway); and the European Award of Human Rights.

1983 the announcement of Walesa’s Nobel Peace Prize raised the spirits of the underground movement.

Because he feared that he would not be allowed back into the country if he received the prize in person, his wife Danuta and son Bogdan accepted the award in Oslo.

Lech Walesa became only the third person in history, after Marquis de Lafayette and Winston Churchill, to address a joint session of the United States Congress.

Lech Walesa shares stories of the Polish experience and the non-violent struggle for peace and democracy. Through his lectures and dialogue with young people, he calls for the building of a modern world founded on universal values. Being a supporter of globalisation and seeing the opportunities offered by new technologies and the development of civilisation, he encourages the establishment of new structures of a peaceful cooperation of nations.

With his electrifying personality, quick wit and his place in history guaranteed, Lech Walesa is in great demand as a speaker by corporations eager to benefit from his powerful story and brilliant leadership skills.

He presents in Polish.