About Us

The Eaglewatch Foundation was founded in 2016 by Lieutenant Commander (Reserve) Bartosz Rutkowski

At the time, terrorists from the so-called Islamic State (also known as ISIS) were waging war in Iraq and Syria. Two years earlier, ISIS extremists had taken over large areas of both countries, committing numerous atrocities against civilians, including genocide. They kidnapped and imprisoned thousands of women and children. Women and girls were forced into sexual slavery and sold like objects at slave markets or given to terrorists as rewards. Boys, after long indoctrination and torture, were forced to carry out suicide attacks. The cruelty of the Islamic State knew no limits.

In the occupied towns and villages, they looted everything of value, turning many of them into ruins. The Islamic State’s atrocities led to a massive humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people had to leave their homes, taking only what they could carry.

The Eaglewatch Foundation was founded in 2016 by Lieutenant Commander (Reserve) Bartosz Rutkowski

At the time, terrorists from the so-called Islamic State (also known as ISIS) were waging war in Iraq and Syria. Two years earlier, ISIS extremists had taken over large areas of both countries, committing numerous atrocities against civilians, including genocide. They kidnapped and imprisoned thousands of women and children. Women and girls were forced into sexual slavery and sold like objects at slave markets or given to terrorists as rewards. Boys, after long indoctrination and torture, were forced to carry out suicide attacks. The cruelty of the Islamic State knew no limits.

In the occupied towns and villages, they looted everything of value, turning many of them into ruins. The Islamic State’s atrocities led to a massive humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people had to leave their homes, taking only what they could carry.

I was fed up with hearing that nothing could be done

Before founding the Eaglewatch Foundation, Bartosz Rutkowski served as the chief training officer at the Polish Armed Forces’ Military Diving Training Center in Gdynia.

In October 2015, while still on active duty, he read an article about a 12-year-old boy who was tortured and crucified by ISIS. He thought about his own two sons, the older of whom was the same age as the murdered boy. At that very moment, he asked himself if he could do something to save at least one child from a similar fate. As he recalls: “I was fed up with hearing that nothing could be done.” After a moment of reflection, he made a decision that completely changed his life. He resigned from the army on an expedited basis, and in February 2016 he went to Iraq.

While on the ground, he wanted to personally assess the needs of people affected by the attacks and determine the best ways to provide help. During his first visit to Iraq, he lived with refugees who told him about the horrors they had experienced. He spoke with women who had been held captive by the terrorists, and with families who had lost their relatives and had been forced to flee their homes. After everything he heard and saw, Bartosz decided to establish the Eaglewatch Foundation, with the aim of helping the victims of war and terrorism return to normal life.

I was fed up with hearing that nothing could be done

Before founding the Eaglewatch Foundation, Bartosz Rutkowski served as the chief training officer at the Polish Armed Forces’ Military Diving Training Center in Gdynia.

In October 2015, while still on active duty, he read an article about a 12-year-old boy who was tortured and crucified by ISIS. He thought about his own two sons, the older of whom was the same age as the murdered boy. At that very moment, he asked himself if he could do something to save at least one child from a similar fate. As he recalls: “I was fed up with hearing that nothing could be done.” After a moment of reflection, he made a decision that completely changed his life. He resigned from the army on an expedited basis, and in February 2016 he went to Iraq.

While on the ground, he wanted to personally assess the needs of people affected by the attacks and determine the best ways to provide help. During his first visit to Iraq, he lived with refugees who told him about the horrors they had experienced. He spoke with women who had been held captive by the terrorists, and with families who had lost their relatives and had been forced to flee their homes. After everything he heard and saw, Bartosz decided to establish the Eaglewatch Foundation, with the aim of helping the victims of war and terrorism return to normal life.

I didn’t want to remain indifferent in the face of evil

Almost at the same time that Bartosz Rutkowski was planning his first trip to Iraq, in another part of Poland Dawid Czyż decided to take a similar step. Horrified by media reports of atrocities committed by ISIS — including the burning alive of young girls kidnapped by the terrorists — he decided he could no longer be a passive onlooker. He traveled to Iraq to join a local self-defense unit, made up of people defending their homes against ISIS and volunteers from around the world who joined to support them. Dawid spent almost half a year on the Mosul front. He was at the heart of events that changed his life — even though his most important mission still lay ahead.

Dawid and Bartosz met for the first time in Iraq — two Polish men in a foreign country who went there to help. Although they chose different methods, their intentions were the same: they did not want to remain indifferent in the face of evil. After returning to Poland, Dawid joined Eaglewatch. He wanted to continue providing help to the people he had once defended.

Over time, Dariusz, Szymon, Natalia, and Marta, also joined Bartosz and Dawid, along with many more dedicated volunteers from all over Poland. The scope of assistance, as well as the list of countries where we bring help to the victims of armed conflicts and acts of terror, has also grown (SEE: HOW WE WORK).