Laois woman to front Irish immigration campaign celebrating Polish community

A Laois woman has been chosen to represent the Polish community in Ireland in the “Beyond Borders” positivity campaign.

Kasjana Jatkowska from Portlaoise has been selected as one of ten people from the 125,000 members of the Polish diaspora in Ireland to represent the community in a national campaign highlighting the achievements, creativity, and contributions of Polish people in Ireland.

Kasjana is the founder of Maths Made Easy Grinds, a grinds school supporting students to build confidence and succeed in mathematics in Laois, Carlow and Kilkenny. Through her work, she helps young people overcome barriers to learning and reach their full potential.

Beyond her business, Kasjana has long been committed to community life in County Laois. She was one of the founding members of the Laois Integration Network, helping to create spaces for connection, cooperation and inclusion. She is also actively involved in the Laois Rotary Club, where she previously served as Chair, contributing her leadership and energy to local initiatives.

“Ireland is a great country, What makes it great is the people. They are very welcoming. That’s why I call Ireland home. Opening my own business was also about giving back. I am proud to support students to overcome their challenges in maths to build their confidence so they can believe in their own abilities,” Kasjana said.

Kasjana as featured in the publicity campaign for Beyond Borders; Poles who build, belong and inspire.

The campaign has been commissioned by Forum Polonia, a Polish migrant rights organisation. Through a series of personal stories, portraits, and short videos, the campaign showcases ten Polish individuals from across Ireland who are shaping their communities in diverse fields — from education and culture to business, art, science, and volunteering.

The project challenges sometimes outdated stereotypes about Polish migrants and aims to highlight the complexity of identity — reminding audiences that every person who has come to Ireland brings with them not just a journey, but a lifetime of experience, talent, and resilience.

Barnaba Dorda is the Chair of Forum Polonia.

“A year ago, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Poland joining the EU, and that was the beginning of the large-scale migration of Poles to Ireland. Many of us started working in manual work sectors, filling in labour gaps.

“Twenty years on, we can see the progress the Polish community has made, but we feel that the stereotypes about Polish migrant workers are still prevalent. With the ‘Beyond Borders’ campaign, we want to replace labels with stories. Polish people have been part of Ireland’s progress for two decades — this campaign celebrates that connection and reminds us that we
all belong,” he said.

The campaign has been co-created by two Portlaoise residents Aga Wypychowska and photographer Renata (Rene) Metelicka.

“The campaign’s central message is We are here. We create. We inspire. An immigrant is a full person with a personal history, professional life, and unique skills. We want to show that Polish people are not just participants in Irish life — they are co-
creators of it.” Aga Wypychowska said. 

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The Beyond Borders campaign will run across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, featuring short video interviews, photography, and a final short film summarising the initiative.

Forum Polonia invites everyone — Polish, Irish, and beyond — to follow the campaign, share the stories, and celebrate life Beyond Borders. Follow the campaign using the tags #BeyondBorders #PolishIrish #PolacywIrlandii #WeBelongHere
#BuildingTogether