Who we are?

Prof. Krzysztof Ficek, MD, PhD

Creator and originator of the Ninanki program.

A professor at the Jerzy Kukuczka University of Physical Education in Katowice, he specializes in orthopedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system, and sports medicine. He completed postgraduate MBA studies in healthcare. For years, he has combined scientific, clinical, and organizational activities, developing modern methods of treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.

He is the author of numerous scientific publications in renowned journals and a reviewer for prestigious industry publications. He has participated in numerous international conferences. He serves as the chairman of the University Bioethics Committee for Scientific Research at the University of Physical Education in Katowice and is a member of the university’s Senate. From 2013 to 2023, he was a member of the Clinical Expert Council of TÜV NORD Polska. He is the founder and president of the Galen-Ortopedia medical center in Bieruń. He led the BioMiStem project, which involved conducting an innovative clinical trial on the use of advanced therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. He is the creator and co-creator of patents and utility models related to medical implants.

Professor Krzysztof Ficek is also a passionate enthusiast and lover of exercise. Physical activity is an integral part of his life, and his many years of practice and patient observation have reinforced his belief in the immense importance of exercise not only for daily well-being and health, but also in the prevention of injuries and ailments of the musculoskeletal system. Healthy exercise habits, developed from an early age, can significantly reduce the risk of many injuries and illnesses, a concept the Professor passionately promotes both in his clinical work and in his scientific and social activities. In his private life, he is the grandfather of Nina and Natalia – observing their development inspired him to create the Ninanki Foundation, which promotes freedom of movement and the development of healthy exercise habits from an early age.

Martyna Borowska, MA

Ninanki program coordinator and composer.

A Master of Arts oboist by profession, she graduated from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice in the class of Professor Tomasz Miczka. She collaborates with numerous orchestras: the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, the Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble, the Krakow Cultural Syndicate, the Polish Film Music Orchestra, and philharmonics in Poland: the Zielona Góra Philharmonic, the Toruń Symphony Orchestra, the Silesian Philharmonic, the Opole Philharmonic, the Krakow Philharmonic, the Częstochowa Philharmonic, and others. She also performs with chamber ensembles such as the ICON Orchestra, the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra “Sonata,” and many others.

She has gained international recognition for her versatile artistic work. She has performed on prestigious stages in China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, and Lithuania, collaborating with orchestras worldwide. Her musical career encompasses collaborations with distinguished artists, including Lang Lang, the Raz Dwa Trzy ensemble, Kuba Badach, Katarzyna Cerekwicka, Marcin Wyrostek, Kasia Moś, and film composers, including Simon Franglen. Her passion for music and constant pursuit of artistic development are the foundations of her career, which combines performance, education, and collaboration with the world’s most distinguished artists. She also completed postgraduate studies at the same academy in music therapy, which she utilizes daily in her work with children.

Martyna Borowska coordinates all program activities and also leads classes, where the desire to develop the program inspires continuous improvement. She is also a co-creator of the program in its musical aspects, where she is the composer of the pieces used during the classes, as well as one of the performers – musicians participating in the recordings of these pieces.

Julia Walalatek, M.A.

The leader of the Ninanki program and co-creator of the movement aspects.

She holds a Master’s degree in physiotherapy and is a graduate and doctoral candidate at the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice. In her professional work, she works with children and adolescents with postural problems, those recovering from orthopedic surgery, and young athletes seeking to improve their overall physical fitness. She has participated in numerous scientific conferences, authored scientific articles, and is a member of scientific research teams.

In her personal life, she is passionate about sports, all forms of physical activity, and comprehensive movement education. She is the co-creator of the movement aspects of the program, who, based on the theory of motor preparation and movement shaping, creates interesting, engaging exercises, as well as collaborative games and activities that children enjoy. She participates in and leads numerous events aimed at promoting the Program and encouraging physical activity among people of all ages.

Joanna Mastalerz, M.A

She is the author of poems and Ninanki’s fairy tales in the program.

Joanna Mastalerz is a graduate of the Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts and the Literary and Artistic Studies at the Faculty of Polish Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. For 25 years, she was associated with the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków, where she performed in numerous significant roles, earning acclaim from both audiences and critics.

Currently, she serves as a lecturer at the Stanisław Wyspiański Academy of Theatre Arts in Kraków, where she specializes in teaching poetry interpretation. Her passions are literature and art, which she actively promotes by sharing her knowledge and experience with future generations of artists. Joanna Mastalerz is also a nature lover – she cares for animals and plants with great devotion. Physical activity is also close to her heart, making movement an integral part of her life. Thanks to her versatility, commitment, and artistic sensitivity, she is a valued figure in the theatre and literary community. In Ninanki she transferred her sensitivity and talent into poems and insights into each movement pattern, creating the rich land of Ninanki.