Magdalena Jaworska from Poland combines freelance flexibility with mission-driven work. Drawing on her personal experience as a cancer survivor, she began as an outreach volunteer and quickly became a community moderator for young cancer survivors across Europe—creating a safe space with weekly discussions and peer support. In this interview, she explains how a quiet Discord server grew into a vibrant network of 850 members, why boundary-setting is essential in remote work, and what it takes to build a sustainable freelance career in Poland.
Interview by: Katerina Smileva Božinovska
Your first international freelance role was with Youth Cancer Europe and the European Network for Youth Cancer Survivors. How did that lead you into community building?
Magdalena: I joined as an outreach freelancer—writing, inviting, and regularly speaking with young survivors from different countries. It quickly became clear that outreach alone wasn’t enough; people needed continuity and a place they could return to. Since I’m a planner, I proposed a simple “operating system”: weekly themes, a posting and questions calendar, a short code of conduct, and a shared moderator checklist. I naturally took on coordination because I translated vague needs into concrete steps—who, what, when, and why. That transition—from ad-hoc outreach to a structured program—gave people a sense of rhythm and a “room” that was waiting for them each week.
What specific steps turned a quiet server into an active community?
Magdalena: We treated the server like a product. First, regular weekly meetings with clear themes (re-entering life after treatment, returning to university or work, fatigue, identity). Second, low-pressure rules: camera optional, listening counts as participation, speaking is an invitation—not an obligation. Third, pinned “starter” questions in channels so anyone joining mid-week could engage immediately. Fourth, member spotlights—short sessions where someone shared a part of life beyond their diagnosis, like a hobby or studies. Finally, we tracked small signals: who returned, who spoke for the first time, who welcomed a new member. Those micro-wins told us what to repeat and refine. Over time, regulars started welcoming newcomers themselves—that’s when you know the community is self-sustaining.
Why Discord, and how did you design it for inclusivity?
Magdalena: Discord gave us a strong balance of structure and simplicity. We created country-specific channels so people could communicate in their own language or discuss local topics, and role-based spaces (survivors, caregivers, allies) with clear descriptions so no one wondered, “Is this for me?”
For moderators, Discord also worked as a lightweight project tool—threads for agendas and simple rotations. We tested Slack and Asana, but they felt too “corporate” for our audience; Discord felt like a hall with clearly marked doors.
You often say “peers, not therapists.” How did that shape trust and participation?
Magdalena: It lowered the pressure. We were explicit: we’re not psychologists, we’re your peers. That means you control your level of engagement—you can just listen for weeks. We modeled this with real topics: fears about returning to studies, frustration with fatigue, small wins like taking a train for the first time again. Because the tone wasn’t formal or performative, people stopped worrying about saying things “the right way.” Trust grew gradually: the first month had more listeners; the second, more cameras on; later, friendships across countries. The key is consistency and pace—trust grows when you let people arrive as they are.
Which outcomes are you most proud of?
Magdalena: Two things: growth with care, and members becoming “owners” of the channel. We reached 850 members with four moderators, and discussions stayed supportive rather than chaotic. A typical journey: someone joins and only listens; later asks about returning to university; receives practical peer advice (disability services, flexible deadlines, energy management); months later, that same person is the first to respond when a new member asks the same question. That shift—from “helped” to “helper”—is the healthiest growth metric I know. We also unexpectedly became global: alongside Europe, we had participants from the Americas, Africa, and India, confirming the universality of these themes.
You plan to open a marketing agency for foundations and NGOs. What gap do you want to fill?
Magdalena: Non-profits often have strong missions but fragile marketing systems: sporadic content, unclear calls to action, and campaigns dependent on one overworked person. The agency will combine creative strategy with a “community logic”: message maps, simple formats teams can sustain, and metrics that link activities to outcomes (sign-ups, volunteers, donations). We’ll work fully remotely with freelancers. Community work shaped my approach: respect people’s capacity and prioritize continuity over one-off spikes.
You grew up in a foster family with your mother. How did that influence how you build communities?
Magdalena: Home was lively—different ages, traumas, and temperaments under one roof. I learned to listen first, then guide. Some people need quiet presence; others need a practical task. Translated into community work, that means multiple entry points: small talk is welcome, deeper sharing has its place but isn’t mandatory. It also taught me shared maintenance—homes work better when everyone contributes. In the survivor community, that meant members welcoming newcomers and carrying conversations without waiting for a moderator.
What personal habits protect your mental health while you work and volunteer, and what would you tell new freelancers?
Magdalena: I make routines and boundaries visible: set offline hours, an end-of-day checklist, and a weekly reset where I archive ideas. When doubt appears, I choose short, focused learning—a good webinar or TED Talk—over endless podcasts. I also practice saying a clear “no” when scope or pay doesn’t fit; that’s better than a “yes” you’ll regret. For beginners: expect doubt, document wins, and ask for help sooner than feels comfortable—community building applies to your career too.
