Many things have been changing in his life for the last fifteen years, but he remained the same person. When we met him in Rome a couple of years ago, he was an incurable idealist, making exhaustive speeches about his ideas of how to make every Pole living in Italy happy. He said that if all Poles from Italy united, no one would suffer from poverty, loneliness, homelessness or discrimination. He never grew out of this idea, to Pole’s benefit. Although there is no Polish organization capable of uniting everyone, after all thanks to this stubborn man, all Poles from the Italian Peninsula had an occasion to gather at The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity meeting.
We do not intend to go deep into details of Robert’s further plans of uniting Poles (we will make a separate article about it), we just meant to present you the figure of Robert Małecki, who reflects the Polish saying: “Pole can do it.”
Supposedly, the human psyche tends to remove all unpleasant experiences from memory and as we know, your first days in Italy were not the best. Do you remember those moments after coming to Italy?
Although 15 years have passed, I remember those days perfectly. My wife, Renata, had already been in Italy. She had come here for work to improve our financial situation. At that time we were in serious trouble. We were a young couple, making our own way, with mortgage and a young child. A few mistakes and, well, this is how we were forced to look for job abroad. The family, at whose house Renata worked as a home help and a sitter, agreed that Renata could take the three-year-old child with herself. It meant a lot for us that Krystian could be with his mother, but I had to stay in Poland with no idea of what could I do. I felt lost at the very beginning. After a couple of months I could not bear the separation. I packed my stuff, got on a bus, I called Renata to tell her that I was going to her and did not wait for her reaction. After several hours I was in an amazing summer resort over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
And what happened next?
Next was stress. I could see my wife and my son, but there was no way I could live with the family where Renata worked. The main problem after arriving was where to sleep and where to look for job. The first day and the first night were a huge improvisation. I was wandering about along the beach with no place to sleep. Thanks to kindness of my wife’s friends I found a job. It was a miracle, because the only word I knew in Italian was “si”. A soft-hearted cook employed me to wash the dishes for 50 thousand liras per day. It was good for a start, I had something to eat and a place to sleep. Of course, I slept on the floor in hall, but at least I did not have to wander around. I cannot believe we left an empty, brand-new apartment in Poland!
I met with my wife and son only when we both had a free afternoon. My heart always broke when we had to say goodbye after a short walk. At work I tried to do my best, but as I knew only one word out of 3 thousand Italian words spoken per minute by my employer, I always responded “si”, not knowing why he threw frying-pans and pots at me. This is how I became Mister Si. The problem occurred when, for example, he called: “Roberto – padella” and I responded “si” and handed him a pot, which immediately landed on my head. This is how my first classes at Italian looked like.
When did you finally get to live with Renata and Krystian?
The summer ended fast and so did my seasonal work. It was the time for new decisions. Renata gave up her job, we rented a flat on tick and we both started looking for employment. It was hard, but since many months we could finally be together.
Krystian was 7 years old when Victoria was born. Having two kids and lots of everyday problems, you quickly started a social work for the benefit of Poles. Could you tell us where did you derive your energy from to prepare a TV programme about Poland in local TV, or to found a Polish association?
Work, home, children – it seems like there is no time for anything else. I could do my social work thanks to Renata; without her acceptance or help, nothing would have gone the way it did. Every little success of mine is in fact a success of us both. Nothing was planned, everything was spontaneous and this is how it began. Fifteen years ago there were 30 Polish women in Follonca, who worked in Italian houses. Family with a child was a sensation. I remember when we organized the first Mass in Polish. The church was full, so we decided to organize them regularly. Often when they finished, the women came to me and told me about their problem in Poland and Italy. They asked for support and help. I could not reject them. In order to help them solve their problems, I had to go to trade unions, offices, lawyers and I studied the labour law. My knowledge gave me a new adrenaline, and every solved issue was a great satisfaction. The women started gathering at our house for a “cup of tea”, and my personal phone number, which I have had for 15 years, has made Giro di Italia.
That was how the general conception came up and how the Association was created. In a similar way, an idea of making a programme in a local TV was born. Its role would be to promote Poland and to answer Pole’s questions. After discussing the details with the director of Teletirreno Maremma Channel, proud of myself for having convinced him, on my way back home I realized there was no one to lead the show. I had no time to think, because I had to act immediately. I remember that I came home very excited, Renata was looking after our two-month-old Victoria, and I was suddenly enlightened. I said to my wife: “You know, I found you a job. Tomorrow you will become a show presenter!” I thought she would drop the baby on the floor. Before she could say: “but…”, I said: “I knew you would accept it!” Renata quickly proved she is good at that and she retrained from an artist to a journalist (she even got registered in Albo dei Giornalisti di Firenze). Of course, she became the first member of my association. Since that time, the kids always accompanied (recordings, conferences, meetings, etc).
The association, or to speak more accurately, a few people with good will, have done many noble things, for example, the pilgrimage to Rome with audience of the Pope John Paul II, financial support for the Polish victims of floods, the project Amici neI Mondo and the arrival of children from primary school called “John Paul II” from Czułczyc with additional pilgrimage and audience of Pope Benedict XVI, realization of dreams of a young boy, Miłosz, from the foundation “Trzeba Marzyć”, and many other, wonderful initiatives, which I hope have helped everyone else as much as they helped me.
5 years ago you started studying in European School of Law and Administration in Rome. The access road from Tuscany to The Eternal City, the need to reconcile studying with working and family life must have cost you a lot of sacrifices. How do you recall that period in your life? What was the best motivation for you to study?
My wife, Renata, encouraged me to study, mainly because law was a new major in Rome and it is very fascinating. We were aware of the difficulties we might encounter. Indeed, it was not an easy period. Long way to drive, hotels, food, it all cost a fortune. Also the time was problematic, as I had very little of it. Although it was hard, I am very happy now, because graduating at ESLA in Rome has changed my life. I met many brilliant people, who, similarly to me, wanted to change their lives. I recall that period in my life as a pleasant one.
From a dish-washer you became a lawyer. It is an enormous feat as for an Italian immigrant, isn’t it?
It’s not a feat, it is life. I think that our fate depends only on ourselves. I could stay in that restaurant, washing the dishes, going back home, drinking beer and complaining on life, politics and all that “cruel world”. I do not mean to offense anybody, but in my opinion, making the right decisions requires many factors. I am a happy man, because in the moment of making important decisions I was always supported by my lovely wife and our children. Thanks to them, their persistence and understanding , today I can proudly say that I am a Master of Law. I defended my thesis in the end of previous year. Not long after graduating, I founded a company Konsulent ItalPol with my partner Avv. Giuseppe Balzano. Apart from legal advices, my advisory firm additionally promotes Polish companies, Polish goods available in Italian markets, as well as establishing new Italian companies in Poland, which is associated with the inflow of new capital to Poland and an opportunity to increase workplaces.
We wish you to be even more successful at work and in private life. As we have already informed the readers of “Nasz Świat”, we will talk about your activity to the benefit of Italian Poles and your plans to unite Poles in Italy in a soon future. Thank you.
Thanks to Editing Team of “Nasz Świat” for sharing with us this interview.
Photos from private archive of Robert Małecki.
