Dr Janusz Korczak: paediatrician, children’s advocate and hero

“Life levels all men; death reveals the eminent” George Bernard Shaw¹

It is just over 140 years since the birth of Dr Janusz Korczak (1878–1942), the Polish paediatrician and children educator. Janusz Korczak was the pen name of Henryk Goldszmit, who was a Polish-Jewish children’s author, paediatrician and child pedagogue. His heroism and selflessness in life and death are his most unforgettable legacies. He gave his life at Treblinka in World War II so that his child patients from his orphanage in Warsaw might not die alone. During his life he was a renowned advocate for children rights and independence. He developed children’s ability to self-direct and make their own decisions to promote resilience.² His philosophy is valid even today, especially for children trapped in conflict, either domestic or international, who have no voice.³

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