Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker and humanitarian known for her courageous efforts during World War II. She was a key figure in the Zegota organization, which aimed to rescue Jewish children from the Nazi regime in occupied Poland. Sendler and her team managed to save around 2,500 children by providing them with false identities and placing them in safe homes. Despite the dangers, Sendler continued her work until she was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943. She was tortured but refused to reveal the names of the children she had saved. After the war, her contributions were largely unrecognized until later years, when she gained international acclaim for her bravery and compassion.