Master of Research in Sociology and Demography from University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

Additional Degrees and Certifications:
• PhD Candidate at Global Development Institute – Development Policy and Management

Awards Received:

Award:
World Contraception Day Ambassador
Awarding Organization:
World Contraception Day Partnership
Date Awarded:
August 23, 2016

Award:
Young Leader
Awarding Organization:
Women Deliver
Date Awarded:
May 1, 2015

Kinga Wisniewska is a Women Deliver Young Leader, World Contraception Day Ambassador and member of the European Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights – YouAct. She has volunteered for various international organizations in the field of women´s empowerment and development, focusing primarily on research and project management. She has five years of project management experience from higher education and private sectors, as well as an extensive international background from Poland, the United Kingdom, United States, and Spain. Kinga’s focus is on comprehensive sexual education (CSE), sustainable development, and climate justice. Through her World Contraception Day project, she provided teenagers in Poland with a safe space to access factual information on contraception, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases, and pleasure – without judgment or religious interpretation. By highlighting young people’s lack of and need for quality information, Kinga showed parents, educators, and policymakers that comprehensive sexuality education is crucial for young people to live happy, healthy, and productive lives. Kinga is currently pursuing her PhD in Development Policy and Management at the Global Development Institute in the UK.

In 2016 I was selected as World Contraception Day Ambassador and awarded with $5,000 grant to develop my own project. I used this money to create ZapytajMnie – an on-line platform providing teenagers in Poland a safe space for access factual information on contraception, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases and pleasure – without judgement or religious interpretation. In the first 45 days after its launch, ZapytajMnie was visited by over 5000 teenagers in Poland looking for answers to the questions regarding their SRHRs. My project addresses the lack of comprehensive sexuality education in Poland and aims to reach teenagers across the country.

When I left Poland to study abroad, I realised how far behind my country is lagging in terms of providing SRHR services. I noticed the difference between the education I received and knowledge my peers from other countries had, which made me realise how important is the family planning for the youth. I want the Polish teens to have equal opportunities and that’s why I decided to get involved in SRHR advocacy, working to provide them with the services they need to be safe, happy and empowered.

I always try to search for easiest solutions to existing problems and address them quickly and in an efficient manner. In my opinion, leadership means understanding the global picture but also being aware of urgent necessities on the ground and the limitations set by national policies. While I push for the laws and policies to be changed, I want to provide solutions quickly and effectively to reach the vulnerable youth as soon as possible, without waiting for the bigger changes to take place

If I am named a winner of 120 under 40, I would use this platform to elevate voices of the Polish youth who are deprived of their basic rights to access SRHR services and comprehensive sexuality education. This problem is often overlooked in the media and I want to use 120 under 40 to put more light on the issues the Polish young people are facing. I would use the $1000 grant to further develop ZapytajMnie so that it reaches more young people across the country and helps them feel empowered.

http://teenvogue.com/story/kinga-wisniewska-sexual-health-education-poland

http://fpvoices.tumblr.com/post/155622137558/kinga-wisniewska-2016-world-contrac…