Poland

Marta Skierkowska is a psychologist and a dedicated manager committed to developing outreach programs. With over 15 years of involvement in aiding children who have suffered from violence or sexual abuse, she co-manages one of Poland’s largest NGOs, the Empowering Children Foundation, affiliated with ECPAT International in the country. Since 2022, Marta has extended her efforts to humanitarian work, supporting the Ukrainian community seeking refuge in Poland, collaborating with organizations such as UNICEF and UNHCR. Having ascended through the ranks of the organization from assistant to board member, Marta is the architect of numerous child abuse prevention programs. Collaborating with her teams, she focuses on scaling these solutions and integrating them into Poland’s systemic activities, encompassing direct interventions, research, education, and advocacy. Marta recognizes the importance of addressing both child abuse and the well-being of staff who confront child trauma daily. She fosters personal development among her team members, ensuring they find roles that resonate with them, and cultivates a supportive environment that mitigates professional burnout. For Marta, combating child abuse is a calling—an honor she pursues with unwavering dedication, believing that well-executed actions can save countless children’s lives. It is this commitment that drives her to refine and standardize her management practices, drawing inspiration from others and striving for continuous improvement in her service to the cause.

Marta Bednarczyk has more than eight years of experience volunteering and working in the nonprofit sector. Marta has a double undergraduate degree in International Security and Ugrofinnic Studies, and a graduate degree in Crisis Management. In her academic research, she specialized in the national security system of Finland and its influence on the Baltic Sea region, as well as education for peace as a tool of grassroots human security-building processes. During her studies, Marta worked as a volunteer coordinator and brand manager in YFU – an international organization dedicated to intercultural education through exchange programs. At YFU, she gained experience as a trainer and facilitator in the fields of intercultural communication, social inclusion, and global citizenship. Through a variety of international projects, Marta has acquired competencies in project management, event coordination, team-building, and youth work. After graduating, she moved to work with the issues of minority rights in Lithuania through an internship at an NGO offering assistance to victims of human rights abuses and hate speech. Upon the completion of her internship, she began working in the local language minority media as a publicist and radio commentator. Both in and outside of her work, Marta is particularly passionate about international politics, women’s rights and gender equality, and sustainable living.

Host Organization: Atlas Corps

Role at Host Organization: At Atlas Corps, Marta will serve as the Training Manager Fellow: coordinating components of the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab and Virtual Leadership Institute programs, including keynote speakers, interactive workshops, self-led activities, discussion groups, and community-building activities with leading U.S. organizations and leaders.