Stefa Wilczynska was born in a Jewish family from Warsaw. Her parents were completely Polish in lifestyle. She went to the largest secondary school in Warsaw, and graduated from the University of Liege, in Belgium. Particularly interested in education, she rapidly became director of the Jewish Orphans' House. This is where she met Korczak, during a fund-raising event. She became his assistant and worked with him over 30 years. She supported him in his plans for a new Jewish orphanage.
In 1931, she spent three months in Kibbutz Ein Harrod, and made her Alya in 1938.
But incapable of adapting to her new life and disappointed that Korczak would not join her, Stefa returned to Warsaw in April 1939. As ever his assistant, she stood by his side throughout
all the tribulations of war, and accompanied him and the orphaned children, to the
