Badges of Honour for Village Leaders from Świecie County (Photos)

They work tirelessly for the benefit of residents, bring local communities together and support the development of their villages. Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Piotr Całbecki presented village leader badges of honour to another group of rural community leaders from Świecie County. The ceremony took place at Lake Deczno, at a recreational facility revitalised with EU funds managed by the regional government. Download photos

– Village leaders (sołtysi) are a vital part of local administration – the level closest to residents and directly rooted in local communities. They foster dialogue, help build consensus around important initiatives and demonstrate every day the tremendous value of working together for the benefit of local communities. That is why it is so important to recognise and appreciate those who serve in this role, emphasised Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

List of village leaders from Świecie County invited to receive the badge of honour

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges facing local communities and to exchange experiences among rural leaders. To mark the International Day of Rural Women, celebrated on 15 October, female village leaders received warm wishes and symbolic flowers in recognition of their dedication, initiative and everyday work for local communities. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chair of the Voivodeship Assembly Przemysław Sznajdrowski, Region’s Parliament Councillor Tadeusz Pogoda, Member of the Polish Parliament Iwona Karolewska, Świecie County Governor Paweł Knapik, Mayor of Świecie Krzysztof Kułakowski and other representatives of local government authorities.

There are currently 2,301 village leaders serving in 127 rural and urban-rural municipalities across the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. The village leader badges of honour, funded by the regional government, have been awarded successively since December 2023. Their design is inspired by the badges worn by village leaders during the Second Polish Republic. The idea for the Village Leader of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship Badge originated with Leszek Walczak, the village leader of Igliczyzna in Bartniczka Municipality, who presented the initiative to Marshal Piotr Całbecki. The proposal received the Marshal’s support and has been implemented progressively ever since. Village leaders from 17 counties already wear the badges on their jacket lapels. A total of 1,904 badges have been presented so far.

The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Council of Village Leaders, established by Marshal Piotr Całbecki in December 2024, is the first body of its kind in Poland. The Council advises and supports the Marshal in shaping regional government policies concerning rural development.

Beata Krzemińska Spokesperson for the Marshal’s Office

16 October 2026