5 years 5 continents 35 countries
Potential leaders are everywhere and we know how to find and support them professor Zbigniew Pełczyński, the founder of the School for Leaders
Due to their quantity and rich cultural and historical tradition the Polish diaspora around the world has a large potential. It is up to the active attitude of young people whether that potential will be fully utilized. It is these young people to whom we address our program. Professor Zbigniew Pełczyński, who after participating in the Warsaw Uprising, had to leave Poland and settle in the United Kingdom, understood very well the situation of immigrants and their particular need to stay in touch with the countries of their origin. Therefore, when the School for Leaders, which was founded by him in Poland in the 90’s, started to be successful in the area of young leaders’ education, Professor Pełczyński decided to involve those Poles who live abroad in the programs as well. The School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad project aims to support the development of the participants’ leadership competencies, as well as to provide them with the right tools and inspiration for further activities. Active reinforcement of the participants’ bonds with Poland and encouragement of their social involvement are important elements of the program that aim to help them act more effectively and consciously within their respective Polish community environments. The School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad is based on two-week-long intensive training programs that are organized and hosted in Poland. During the training sessions the Polish community leaders aged 20-40 participate in a series of workshops, lectures, discussion panels and study visits. The activities are prepared in such a way that they meet the needs of a selected group of participants to the widest possible extent. What is most important is that the participants also have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of contemporary Poland, including its culture and social or economic situation. They participate in study visits to different towns of Poland, as well as attend meetings with politicians, public administration employees and representatives of cultural institutions or non-governmental organizations, businessmen and with other young Poles who are socially involved.What’s important, the participants also 2
have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the contemporary Poland, including its culture and social or economic situation. They participate in the study visits to different towns of Poland, as well as in the meetings with politicians, public administration employees and representatives of cultural institutions or non-governmental organizations, businessmen and the young Poles who are socially involved.
Helpful assistants During two-week-long School programs the participants’ educational process is monitored and assisted by experienced leaders who are recruited from among the alumni of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad programs. The task of the group coordinator is to support the participants in their development and learning, mainly by encouraging them to participate in the discussions that take place during everyday meetings. The presence of group coordinators in the School also provides an opportunity for the participants to get familiar with the activity of more experienced Polish community leaders from other regions of the world. Apart from the two-week-long Schools, separate training sessions are organized for the groups of young leaders who come from the same country or deal with a similar area of activities such as self-government, cultural or professional projects and initiatives.
Alumni network After successfully completing the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad program the participants are invited to join the Alumni network, which is not only an honorary duty. The Alumni network of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad makes up a strong source of support and mutual inspiration extending across 5 continents. The Alumni also exert a large influence on the development of further generations of leaders by sharing their own experiences and supporting the development of new projects.
For the last five years 357 young activists of Polish origin from 35 countries received our support in the area of their activity and personal development.
Training sessions 2013 United Europe During the workshops the participants of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community of Western Europe had an opportunity to deepen their ability of cooperation and elaboration of a common approach. Altogether 29 participants from the following 13 countries were selected for the program: Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Norway, Luxembourg, Greece, Switzerland, Netherlands and Iceland. The young leaders practised the art of argumentation during the demonstration Oxford debate and the discussion session dedicated to the subject of participation of a Polish community leader in the life of a local community. They found out how to forge alliances for the needs of the executed projects and how to obtain European Union funds for their actions for the Polish community abroad.
We were shown Poland and the Poles which the majority of us didn’t know. Meetings with those people who like us believe in what they do made us look with confidence into the future. The leadership strength in us was slowly waking up. Barbara Czyżewska, Italy.
The Training for the Leaders for the Young Polish Professionals Organizations
process and how different interest groups can have a impact on politicians in order to work out compromises. During workshops the participants discussed ways of increasing overall political involvement of the Polish community abroad. They analysed how important it is for the Polish community to indicate their own representatives in the public sphere and to provide those representatives with comprehensive support. The lecture dedicated to ways of obtaining funds by Polish community organizations and constructing relationships with sponsors was an important part of the training. The training was co-organized by the Central European Business Association Inc., SLP Alumnus Magda Paździor and in cooperation with the General Consulate of Poland in New York.
Young professionals
The Leadership Training in New York
Leaders in Manhattan The Leadership Training in New York started with workshops organized in the mirror hall of the Consulate of the Republic of Poland. Altogether 35 participants from 9 states of the USA took part in the training. They visited New York’s federal and local administration offices. Participants also got to know the representatives of authorities, as well as lawyers and lobbyists who explained to them the law-making
The Training for the Leaders for the Polish Community Organizations of Young Professionals was addressed to the animators of circles of businessmen of Polish origin, as well as corporate lawyers and independent professionals who promote the image of Poland around the world by virtue of their own success. Altogether 19 leaders from the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Netherlands, Canada, Lithuania, Germany, Norway, USA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom visited Warsaw for the training. By analysing the experiences of 14 organizations from Europe and North America they created a model of activity for an association of young professionals. They were also invited to the Chancellery of the President of Poland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Employers of Poland. The meetings were dedicated to the economic promotion of Poland abroad and cooperation with Polish communities of young professionals. 3
Poles for the local government Thanks to the Self-government Training in Ireland 13 young representatives of the Polish Community in Ireland gained knowledge on running and voting in the local municipal elections. It is known that Poles makeup the largest national minority in Ireland but they were totally absent at the local government level. Poles living in Ireland had until the 25th of November 2013, to register to the Irish Register of voters in order to vote and run in the next year’s local government elections in Ireland.
Those 13 people who participated in the training are so full of energy that they will start to perform pro-turnout activities and will make a Polish revolution in Ireland. In Ballymun, where I’m involved, such a revolution will surely take place! Agnieszka Wieczorkowska, Ballymun
Vote! You are at home In advance of the elections to the Irish local government in 2015 the School for Leaders and the Forum Polonia organized a campaign that encourages Poles who live in Ireland to register in the Irish electoral register. The aim of the campaign is to increase the role of Polish communities in local government and to increase their participation in the political and social life of Ireland. The participants conducted “get out the vote” actions that would encourage the Polish community to register. Through street happenings, meetings all over Ireland, press articles, posters and flyers they informed resident Poles about their rights as voters. Groups of volunteers distributed registration forms and informational brochures on Polonia meetings and celebrations.
Naas, near Dublin, September 28, 2013
The participants of the training –consisting leaders in their own local environments – spent a week in Naas, County Kildare where they learned how to run election and pro-voter-turnout campaigns and got familiar with techniques of making public appearances. They had classes with such experts as politicians of different parties, journalists, experts on the political system in Ireland and representatives of migrant organizations. The training inaugurated the “You are at home. Cast a vote!” campaign (www. jestesusiebie.org) which encourages Poles residing in Ireland to register in the electoral register and to participate in local elections. The Irish councillors familiarised the participants with methods of cooperating between councillors and inhabitants of their electoral districts. As part of the practical activities, participants of the training took part in the Town Council session that was held at City Hall. 4
Altogether 40 Polish activists, 30 Polish community weekend schools, 16 Polish Catholic parishes, 18 Polish community media that are active in Ireland, the network of 200 Polish shops in Ireland and the 4 largest Polish community organizations (IPS, POSK, myCork and Together Razem) participated in the project.
School for Cultural Animators for the Polish Community Abroad They will promote the Polish culture in Russia During the School for Cultural Animators for the Polish Community Abroad, activists from 12 cities of the Russian Federation gained practical knowledge on how to integrate and animate local community by means of cultural activities. The 15 participants took part in the training in Otrębusy from the following towns: Chelyabinsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Shchyolkovo, Ufa, Volgograd, Vologda and Volzhsky. They were not only young people of Polish origin but also native Russians fascinated by Polish culture and language. The inaugurating lecture on how to change local communities by means of cultural activities was given by Jarosław Chołodecki, a former promoter of Polish culture in the USA and the current activist of the Smolna Street Dwellers Association which is well know in the Warsaw. During the workshops, participants discussed ways of motivating others to get socially involved and practised their skills under the slogan of “An engaging leader”. They also listened to the lectures of Jakub Bułat on how to build a local community and to the lectures of Dr. Zuzanna Grębecka from the Institute of Polish Culture of the Warsaw University on how animation of culture is done.
projects. They were divided into three teams and had two days to prepare, to implement and to settle the cultural project that integrates the community of Otrębusy. They could apply for the funds for the necessary materials by completing the project application which was then evaluated with regard to the accuracy of analysis of their needs, the determination of goals and the elaboration of a realistic budget and schedule. Finally, the animators invited the inhabitants of Otrębusy to participate in their three projects. The “What do Otrębusy dream about?” project consisted in recording the dreams of the inhabitants with regard to the changes in their town and in organizing the exhibition of those dreams presented in the pictures. The “Alive book” was a meeting organized in the primary school where one could “rent” interesting and informative speakers for free – both from amongst the inhabitants of Otrębusy and the activists from Russia. In turn, the “Otrębook” was an event where books were handed out to the inhabitants in exchange for their opinions about the culture. The event was connected to the creation of a literature exchange between Poles and Russians. The inhabitants of Otrębusy welcomed the project with enthusiasm. The report from this event appeared also on TVP Polonia.
The cultural animators can contribute to the creation of places where they will build the trust to the people they meet. How to create such a place? You have to rely on your own passions, to show and to develop them. With this you can reach two values: the authenticity for which our guests will want to come back and the strength that is necessary to preserve this place. Sooner or later we will understand that there are no barriers that we would not be able to overcome. Jakub Bułat, the owner of the Tarabuk book shop cafe
During their visit to Warsaw, participants met with representatives of the Association of Creative Initiatives “ę” and the Ethnographic Laboratory Association. They were also inspired by the history of change of the image of Belarus and Belarusians in Poland during the meeting with the Initiative Free Belarus. After coming back to Otrębusy participants analysed the results during the session on “How to promote Poland?”
What do Otrębusy dream about At the end of the training the participants, now cultural animators, made up and carried out their own
Otrębusy, 20–31 VIII 2013
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Trainings 2012–2009 Common projects The Leadership Training in Russia (13–17 July, 2012) was carried out by the Embassy of Poland in Moscow, the School for Leaders Association and the Polish Club in Kazan in cooperation with the Federal University in Kazan. Altogether 16 young Polish community leaders who are active in the Russian Federation participated in the training. During the workshops they gained knowledge in the area of team leadership, the methods of work through projects, the image construction and the creation of the network of support. They also practised the skill of public appearances during Oxford debates. The training was an opportunity to establish new contacts and to work on common projects. The project was co-organized by Ksenia Fedorova, an Alumnus of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community in Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine from 2011.
Different perspectives The Training for the Leaders for the Polish Community of North America (27 August – 7 September, 2012) attracted 30 participants from Canada and USA. During the workshops the young leaders developed their skills of leading teams and building an atmosphere of partnership, as well as the art of public appearances. The lectures and the discussion panels with representatives of the world of science, business and culture gave them an opportunity to take a closer look at the contemporary Polish reality. The study visit to Toruń was also important as it demonstrated the diversity of grassroots initiatives carried out in our country. During meetings with representatives of Polish state institutions, which were an important element of the program, participants had an opportunity to speak about the role of the young Poles who live abroad. The participants met with Janusz Cisek, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and with the members of the Senate Commission for Emigration and Connection with the Poles Abroad.
10 participants form 9 universities participated in the training. During the workshops the participants had an opportunity to develop their leadership competences as well as skills to work through projects. Two important points of the five-day-long training were the lecture of professor Zbigniew Pełczyński, the founder of the School for Leaders, as well as the meeting with the Ambassador of Poland in the United Kingdom, Witold Sobkow. There were also meetings and discussion panels with representatives of local Polish community organizations and student associations that have experience in representing other nationalities in academic circles in an effective manner. The training was carried out thanks to the support of the Consular Department of the Embassy of Poland in London and the General Consulate of Poland in Manchester, as well as in cooperation with the Oxford University Polish Society. The event was held under the patronage of the polish Ministerof Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski.
Vision and goal The Leadership Training in Ireland (18–21 October, 2012), which was organized in the partnership with Forum Polonia in Ireland and the Embassy of Poland in Dublin, helped young leaders to elaborate their visions of changes which they want to introduce within the community of Poles who live in Ireland. During the workshops participants planned how to specify and achieve their goals. The training was complemented by lectures in the area of effective communication of interests of the Polish Community in Ireland, and with ways of finding support for their activities and effective cooperation with the Irish media. The training was co-organized by Barnaba Dorda and Emilia Marchlewska, both Alumni of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community in Western Europe of 2009.
From the British universities The Training for Leaders of Student Organizations in the United Kingdom (7–11 September, 2012) was addressed to the representatives of the Polish Associations that operate at British Universities. Altogether 6
School for Leaders for the Polish Community in North America, 27 VIII–7 IX 2012
leaders were invited to the Parliament where they became familiar with the structure of Polish government and participated in a meeting with the Advisor to the President of Poland, Jan Lityński, at which point, participants had an opportunity to express their opinions about the voting rights of the Polish community and Poles who live abroad. During the visits to Słubice, Gniezno and Poznań they deepened their knowledge on how to extend the scope of a local initiative.
Art and patriotism
The Training for the Leaders for the Polish Community in Russia, 1–7 V 2011
At the Black Sea The Training for the Leaders for the Polish Community in Russia (1–7 May, 2011) was held in Gielendżyk. Altogether 23 young leaders of the Polish Community in Russia participated in the workshops that reinforced such leadership competences as the development of relationships within the team, the art of public appearances, and methods of project preparation. The participants had a chance to practise these acquired skills during the Oxford debate and the final project in which they promoted Poland by engaging holidaymakers from the neighbourhood resort into undertaking common activities. During the lecture of Consul Diana Graczyk the participants had an opportunity to get familiar with the possibilities and principles of cooperation with diplomatic missions. The training was organized by the Consular Department at the Embassy of Poland in Moscow in cooperation with the School for Leaders Association, Regional Krasnodar Organization, Polish National Centre of Culture “Jedność” and the University of Cuba.
Słubice, Gniezno, Poznań The School for Leaders for the Polish Community of Australia, Brazil and New Zealand (29 June – 10 July, 2011) brought together 20 participants who had an opportunity to get familiar with the principles of Oxford debates and ways of establishing cooperation. They also worked on the specific stages of implementing their own projects. During the study visits the young
School for Leaders for the Polish Community in Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine (17–28 August, 2011) involved 31 participants. The program of the training was focused on the issues related to the reinforcement of leadership competences, an introduction to the contemporary history of Poland and the establishment of multidimensional cooperation amongst Polish community organizations and activists, as well as with institutions and non-governmental organizations in our country. The meeting dedicated to the idea of community of Central Europe within the contemporary cultural reality was an important element of the training. The visit to the theatre as well as film projections were also part of the training. In Toruń and Płużnica the young leaders met with NGO representatives who are involved in activities for culture and promotion. The participants also took part in a discussion panel dedicated to the different faces of patriotism. Henryk Wujec, the previous opposition activist and the current President’s Advisor introduced the participants to the history of the system transformation in Poland.
Cooperation in the United Kingdom The Leadership Training in the United Kingdom (9–15 September, 2011) was organized in Edinburgh in partnership with the Polish Cultural Festival Association. Altogether 20 activists from Poland and the Polish community in the United Kingdom participated in the event. A special emphasis was placed on cooperation with local institutions and non-governmental organizations that deal with minority groups. The workshops were complemented by lectures and meetings with representatives of NGOs, as well as local government and government institutions that deal with the integration of British society. The participants also met with experienced Polish community leaders from all over the United Kingdom. The training was held under the patronage of the Ambassador of Poland in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Barbara Tuge-Erecińska. 7
Manage your energy The European School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad (23 June – 4 July, 2010) gathered 47 young leaders. They came from Germany, France, Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Apart from the workshops (having to do with reinforcement of leadership competences) they participated in discussion panels and lectures dedicated to the collection of funds for their activities, as well as the establishment of cooperation between the local authorities and local society. During their study visits to Warsaw, Łódź and Tomaszów Mazowiecki, participants became familiar with the history of the contemporary transformation in Poland. The participants were also invited to a conference on “How leaders should manage their energy” which was organized as part of the PAFF Leaders program carried out by the School for Leaders Association.
Poland in details The School for Leaders for the Polish Community of Argentina and Brazil (21 July –1 August, 2010) provided an opportunity for the 20 participants from South America to participate in workshops dedicated to working through projects, the skill of debating, the search for the sources of funds for their Polish community activity and the active community engagement of young people. During the study visits to Warsaw they had an opportunity to get familiar with the parliamentary system through meetings with politicians. In Lublin participants became familiar with the principles of how local government functions in Poland and how cooperation with NGOs in Radzymin and Słupno deepened their knowledge of grassroots civil initiatives. A cycle of lectures dedicated to such topics as system transformation, social and economic changes after 1989 or directions of development for Poland until 2030 was organized as part of the participants’ introduction to the contemporary history of Poland.
The School for Leaders for the Polish Community of the USA and Canada, 29 VI–12 VII 2009
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European School for Leaders of the Polish Community Abroad (23 VI–4 VII 2010)
Good arguments, effective managementSchool for Leaders for the Polish Community of Western Europe (24 August – 6 September, 2009) gathered 25 young leaders from Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Austria and the United Kingdom. The program consisted of intensive workshops dedicated to the idea of leadership, methods of providing a convincing argument, efficient project management as well as cooperation with media. The participants also took part in meetings with representatives of government and local government institutions who are responsible for cooperation with the Polish community and Poles who live abroad. As part of their study visits the participants visited Cracow, Gdańsk and Toruń. Cooperation between Poland and the Polish community abroad, the construction of relationships between local government authorities and NGOs, as well as methods of raising funds for the activity of Polish community organizations were also important elements of the training.
The first class The School for Leaders for the Polish Community of the USA and Canada (29 June – 12 July, 2009) brought together young leaders from the USA and Canada. Altogether 30 participants developed their competences in the area of leadership, public appearances and working through projects. They also participated in meetings with politicians who represented institutions that cooperate with the Polish community around the world and in lectures dedicated to the contemporary transformation in Poland, its current economic situation and the national identity of the Polish community and Poles who live abroad. During their study visits to Cracow, Toruń and Gdańsk the participants became familiar with the function of local government as well as NGO activity. Participants also visited with Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz and president Lech Wałęsa. At the end of the training they took part in the walk around the district of Praga in Warsaw.
Alumni Program of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad Our goal is to develop a network of cooperation between young leaders who are active in Polish Polish communities in different parts of the world. We want to inspire them to cooperate, to exchange experiences and to establish relationships that are useful for their activities. Issued every month, the Newsletter for the Alumni of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad contains information about the programs of the School for Leaders and information transmitted by the Senate of Poland and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland. By broadcasting information about
their projects and activities the Alumni receive help and support with regard to the establishment of mutual cooperation. Technical Trainings are aimed to support the groups of Alumni who carry out the projects of similar content and scope. These trainings enable them to work on their particular projects under the supervision of the experts, as well as to exchange their experiences and to solve common difficulties. Alumni Reunions. These reinforce the skills and knowledge gained by the participants during their respective programs and provide them with motivation for further activities and personal development. We provide space for reflection on what has changed in the participants’ lives after completing the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad and on how their activity has developed or what plans they have for the future. The School for Leaders Alumni Base is a web portal (www.baza.szkola-liderow.pl) where the where leaders are invited to share their experiences, to exchange information and to establish cooperation both between Alumni of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad and Alumni of other programs of the School for Leaders Association that are carried out in Poland.
The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community of Western Europe, 1–3 X 2010
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Alumni reunions Similar difficulties The Technical Training for the Alumni (12–15 September, 2012) was the first meeting of this kind in which Alumni from Ireland, United Kingdom and Latvia took part. It was dedicated to the mobilization of Polish communities in Poland and abroad. The participants worked on the marketing strategy of the previously submitted projects and reflected on how to use them to mobilize their local communities. The workshops were complemented by interactive lectures in the area of cooperation with the media and the mobilization of local communities based on the experience of the “Your vote, your choice” campaign co-run by the School for Leaders.
It turned out that the leaders from other environments have to deal with similar difficulties. I used the experience of the people I met at the training. I am impressed by the content of the training and the ability to suit the needs of a diverse group of participants. Artur Banaszkiewicz, Ireland
The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad, Białobrzegi, 21–24 XI 2013
Active voters The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad (Białobrzegi, 21-24 November, 2013) Comprised of 45 School for Leaders Alumni from 18 countries that exchanged their experiences and worked on common initiatives. The 5 years of activity of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad also provided an opportunity to sum up and make plans for the future. One day, which was organized in cooperation with the Senate Commission for the Emigration and Connection with the Poles Abroad, was dedicated to the electoral activity of the Polish Community and Poles who live abroad. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Radsław Sikorski also met with the Alumni and encouraged them to engage more in the promotion of Poland abroad.
The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad, Białobrzegi, 21–24 XI 2013
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International cooperation The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad (Białobrzegi, 16–19 November, 2012) brought together 31 Alumni from 13 countries all across the world. They established contacts with nearly a hundred other leaders who are active in Poland and who took part in the Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders that took place at the same time. The Alumni discussed their common experiences, exchanged ideas for further activity, established cooperation and shared knowledge as part of activities throughout the reunion.
Strategy and plan The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community of the South America (Porto Alegre, 29 November – 2 December, 2012). The main topic of the meeting in Porto Alegre, which gathered 16 active leaders from the Polish communities of Argentina and Brazil, was cooperation on the local and international level. The participants exchanged their experiences and worked on the construction of a vision and strategy and their particular projects. The Reunion was co-organized by Tiago Halewicz, the Alumnus of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community in Australia, Brazil and New Zealand from 2011 with the support of the Embassy of Poland in Buenos Aires and the Consulates General of Poland in Curitiba and Sao Paolo.
activity and to the establishment of relationships with organizations and institutions that are active in Poland was an important part of the Reunion. The Reunion was co-organized by the Alumnus of SLP Marcin Grządka from the Young Polish-Canadian Professionals Association. The Vice-consul Wojciech Dzięgiel offered the substantive support.
Contacts, experiences The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community of Western Europe (Edinburgh, 1–3 October, 2010) led to the establishment of relationships and the exchange of experiences between the leaders from all over Europe. It was inaugurated with a lecture given by professor Zbigniew Pełczyński. The participants took part in workshops dedicated to the engagement of local community into common activities. The Reunion was co-organized by the Alumnus of SLP, Joanna Zawadzka from the Polish Cultural Festival Association in Edinburgh.
We believe that the history of our country should be a positive inspiration for visitors. We want them to know that thanks to our national features such as diligence, intelligence, talent and imaginativeness Poland is a country of success. Minister Radosław Sikorski during the Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad, Warsaw 2013
Map of contacts The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders (Jasionka, 3–6 September, 2011) gathered 42 Polish community leaders form Poland and 16 different countries and 15 from Poland. They made presentations of their own projects and exchanged new ideas for them. The Reunion was summed up by a map that illustrated the network of contacts established during the programs of the School for Leaders and the Alumni Reunion.
Leadership styles The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community of the USA and Canada (Toronto, 3–5 September, 2010) united the alumni of the program with representatives of the Polish communities in Toronto and surrounding areas. The participants took part in workshops dedicated to styles of leadership and situational leadership. The meeting dedicated to the collection of funds for their Polish community The Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad, Białobrzegi, 21–24 XI 2013 11
The School for Leaders was founded in the summer of 1994 by the initiative of Dr Zbigniew A. Pełczyński, professor at the Oxford University. In February 1997 the project transformed into the School for Leaders Association. Our mission is to support the development of civil society through training and support of leaders who perform their activities within the public sphere in NGOs, local government institutions and political parties. The participants of our programs are the people of different political and social backgrounds. After 20 years of activity, our Alumni are members of the European and Polish Parliament, of the government and of many local governments. They also run hundreds of organizations and social initiatives in over 40 countries all across the world.
In 2009 the first edition of the School for Leaders for the Polish Community Abroad took place. Since then 14 training sessions have been carried out in Poland and 10 training sessions abroad (in Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada and Brasil). Altogether 357 young and active representatives of the Polish community environments from 35 countries on 5 continents (South America, North America, Australia, Asia and Europe) participated in the project. www.szkola-liderow.pl
Rzeczpospolita Polska Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych The projects “School for Leaders of the Polish Community Abroad”, “School for Cultural Animators for the Polish Community Abroad” and “Vote! You are at home” are financed with the funds from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Cooperation with Polish Community and the Poles who live abroad in 2013” Competition. In 2013 the project is held under the honourable patronage of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski.
Between 2009 and 2011 the project was carried out with the funds of the Office of the Senate of Poland and under the patronage of the Speaker of the Senate Bogdan Borusewicz. The Office of the Senate also supported the organization of the Alumni Reunion of the School for Leaders in 2012 and 2013 and it offers technical support throughout the project.