We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maciek & Matylda Mąka a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maciek & Matylda, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Our mission, rooted in raising awareness about global social issues and fostering understanding of diverse cultures, stems from a deep belief that understanding different realities and challenges is the key to building empathy and mutual respect in an increasingly interconnected world. We’re not just interested in presenting the colorful aspects of cultures or distant social challenges, but in opening a dialogue that brings people, especially in Poland, closer to what exists beyond their everyday experience.

As a team, we believe in the power of authentic stories told by individuals and local organizations that work tirelessly to address inequalities, support marginalized communities, and pursue real change. We actively engage in conversations with leaders of non-profit organizations on both local and international levels, allowing us to experience their work firsthand and share their missions and stories with a broader Polish audience. By doing this, we open a window to a world often hidden from those not directly involved in global social issues.

Our mission is to bring cultural and global awareness to the Polish community, illustrating that the lives of people in distant parts of the world have an impact on all of us. We believe that knowledge about the challenges faced by different communities motivates people to make more conscious decisions and engage in actions that promote sustainable development and global solidarity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We started our own venture as a way to bring our passions to life and continue developing them — for Maciek, it’s all about documentary photography, and for Matylda, it’s storytelling. We wanted to transform our experiences into written and visual narratives, crafting stories that resonate on a deeper level. Our work offers high-quality reportage projects that include articles, photography, and video formats. Our goal is to challenge the misconception that the world is limited to what surrounds us in our immediate environment. We aim to show that there’s so much more beyond our familiar horizons.

What sets us apart is our commitment to conscious travel. We’re not about showing just beautiful landscapes for the sake of influencing; instead, we merge our love for exploration with an authentic depiction of real situations in remote parts of the world. We’re most proud of our collaboration with Sheroes Hangout in Agra, a café managed by survivors of acid attacks and supported by the Chhanv Foundation. This project is one we hold close to our hearts — from the form it took, to the results we achieved, to the profound insights we gained from meeting such extraordinary people.

We want people to see our genuine engagement in each project and understand that distant lands are complex, with layered narratives that go beyond scenic views. While many of the places we visit are indeed magical and beautiful, our mission is to dive deeper into their stories.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Many people tend to see creative work as a hobby rather than real work — but this is a misconception. It’s not as simple as Matylda sitting down for a couple of hours each week to write a meaningful piece, or Maciek snapping a photo and it being instantly ready for publication. Each piece of work represents hours of dedication, honing our craft, and refining the outcome to reach a level we can be proud of.

What may be difficult for non-creatives to understand is that there’s a sense of mission driving what we do. It’s not just about producing aesthetically pleasing photos or well-written texts; we want our work to impact how people perceive the world around them. Each project, each image, and every story carries something deeper. We’re striving to challenge perspectives, to reveal the layers of our world that often go unnoticed, and to inspire others to look beyond the obvious. There’s always more behind each piece than what meets the eye.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is knowing that we’re doing something meaningful — something that can shift perspectives and contribute to the mission of organizations working to improve the world. There’s immense fulfillment in knowing that our work has the potential to make a difference, even if it’s just pushing a few people outside their comfort zones.

One of the moments that truly reinforced this for us was on Reddit. When we shared materials from our travels in India, we received responses from people thanking us for changing their mindset or for finally showing the real side of this country without any embellishment. Bringing visibility to the reality of people who can’t showcase it themselves, and receiving genuine feedback like this, strengthens our motivation and belief in what we’re doing. It reminds us why we started this journey in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sattwatravel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sattwa.travel/?igsh=MTloaml0YXgzYWgycQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558303212955
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sattwatravel?si=gKkkrW7pj9kxMAkZ
• Other: Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/u/SattwaTravel/s/HWAPo8BqLs

Image Credits

Fot. Maciek Mąka