On the potential of grassroots actions: reflections based on Paweł Rudnicki’s book Kto, jak nie my? Wspólnota i działanie na Dworcu Głównym we Wrocławiu (marzec–kwiecień 2022) [Who, if not us? Community and action at the Main Railway Station in Wrocław (March–April 2022)]

Abstract

The text reflects on Paweł Rudnicki’s book Who, if not us? Community and action at the Main Railway Station in Wrocław (March–April 2022). The monograph documents volunteer activities for people escaping the full-scale war that broke out in Ukraine in 2022. Volunteering has educational dimensions, and the reflections on the book focus on the essence of help and learning experiences of those involved. The reflections also address coping with the difficulties while working in crisis situations. The book provokes thoughts on conflicts and tensions that inevitably arose in such an intense work environment. It highlights the value of grassroots actions in the context of contemporary research on activism and citizenship, emphasizing that caring for others and building a community are not only possible today but also essential.