A new hub for exploring Polish culture has been launched in Brazil through a collaborative effort between two universities from Poland and Brazil. Named the John Paul II Centre for the Study of Polish Culture, it was recently inaugurated in Porto Alegre. Established by the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), the center aims to serve as a nexus for research on the extensive Polish diaspora in Brazil and across Latin America. KUL's rector, Mirosław Kalinowski, stated that the center will serve as a space for mutual enrichment and facilitate the promotion of Polish language, history, and culture among Brazilian students. Additionally, it will focus on preserving Polish cultural heritage within Brazil.
The initial classes for PUCRS students have commenced, organized in collaboration with the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), a governmental entity. Eventually, these courses will be accessible to all interested individuals. The curriculum spans four months and encompasses Polish language instruction alongside a series of academic lectures covering Polish history, linguistics, and sociology.
Kalinowski expressed optimism that future participants will include members of Brazil's Polish diaspora, estimated at around 2 million people. This diaspora traces its origins back to a significant wave of Polish emigration during the 19th century, amid Poland's partition between Russia, Germany, and Austria. Porto Alegre emerged as one of the key destinations for Polish immigrants during this period.