First, an explanation of the green flag....

In the first half of this century there lived a man by the name of Janusz Korczak.
Korczak was an author and pediatrician, whose work led him to a deep love and concern for children. He worked tirelessly in the ghettos of Warsaw and in the orphanages, as World War II took a heavy toll on the youthful innocence of the Polish children. Here the children looked upon him as their own grandpa, as his love showed through and was a comfort at a time when they needed it the most.

Korczak was a firm believer in the capability of children to help determine their own future, and in their ability to use their unspoiled clarity of mind to help solve modern problems. King Matt the First, by Korczak was the story of a young prince who came to occupy the throne after the unexpected death of his father, the king. Because he wasn't even a teenager yet, the neighboring countries felt that King Matt's nation was left in a vulnerable position, so they attacked. King Matt proved to be a formidable opponent, even against enemies more powerful. Time and again he used simple cunning to overcome brute strength, forcing them to give up their aggressive actions against his kingdom and return peace.

The victory brought a joyful time to the kingdom. During times of indecision, Matt used to sneak out of the palace to ask advice of his young friends instead of relying solely on his royal advisors, and now he rewarded all the children in the kingdom with parades. The children would march behind the symbol of Matt's reign - the green flag. He thought it would be a good thing to start zoos, featuring exotic animals brought in from the newly-made allies in the southern continent of Africa.

In spite of this obvious success, as time went on Matt came under increasing scrutiny from his own courtrymen. And, why not? After all, how could he dare attempt to make friends with the nations who had just made war upon them instead of demanding huge reparations - these countries who had been rivals for years and years? Accepting these dangerous creatures from those strange cultures in Africa (and making friends with them, yet!), surely the situation was getting out of control. Then, starting up a legislative branch occupied by children to help run the government.... how absurd!

Finally, "order" was returned and Matt was forced into a life of exile.

Janusz Korczak was a Polish Jew. The result of his work with the children of the Warsaw ghettos was relocation, along with them, to a Nazi concentration camp. Because of his public stature and abilities, Korczak was offered many chances to be released from imprisonment. Naturally, he refused. He spent the last part of his life writing a diary of his thoughts and experiences. Finally came the day that Korczak and about two hundred children were to be taken to the gas chambers of Treblinka. They were prepared.... Visualize the picture of two hundred children - marching proudly down the street in orderly columns - Korczak in the front row holding the hand of a child on either side of him - all marching behind a green flag. One of the last entries Korczak made in his diary had a tone of frustration in it, wondering if anyone would be able to use any of his ideas. He said that maybe in fifty years or so, someone will find this and make some use of them.

Across the World Wide Web, it's obvious that Korczak's work is taking on a new significance, and it will always be an inspiration to The Erickson Center.

Generally, The Erickson Center is dedicated to the beliefs and principles set forth in Through Krista's Eyes.

Those beliefs and principles can be defined as being part of one of these fundamental concepts that will never change, and that we will always cling to:

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