The objective of this program is to support the development of skills and qualifications of individuals working for the benefit of their local communities. This is achieved mainly through the tutorial method consisting of regular cooperation between an experienced tutor and a local leader.
The program is addressed to active participants of projects carried out within various programs of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation: “Act Locally,” “Equal Opportunities”, “English Teaching”, “Region in Transition” (RITA), “PAFF Local Partnerships”, and the Library Development Program.
The main part of the program is the 12-month leader-tutor cooperation and the training cycle adjusted to user needs and priorities consisting of planning their own development, team building, organization management, communication, engaging the community, and building a local partnership. Skills acquired during the program help leaders act for the benefit of local communities.
An important part of the program is the offer addressed to the graduates – the “Alumni” initiative – which provides an opportunity for cooperation and experience exchange. This initiative enables the participants to meet with well-known public figures, take part in workshops that respond to their needs, and access funds from graduate initiatives to carry out leader projects. Thanks to the newsletter subscription, the alumni regularly receive news about current program actions. The experience exchange between leaders is also possible during annual meetings and through the social media.
A special group of program participants and alumni are those who are active in local governments. In 2023, the Polish Parliament appointed Monika Horna-Cieślak (an alumna of the eighteenth round) as Commissioner for Children’s Rights. Two PAFF leaders secured mandates in the 2023 parliamentary elections: Iwona Karolewska (a fourteenth edition alumna) and Marcin Skonieczka (a second edition alumnus). In the 2024 local government elections a total of 164 PAFF leaders ran for office: 80 of them were elected mayors, members of provincial parliaments as well as town, municipality and rural community councils.
Since 2008 the PAFF Leaders study tours to the United States have been organized in cooperation with the US Embassy in Poland. Each year a group of about a dozen PAFF leaders and tutors participate in the tours.
In 2022 more than 100 alumni actively engaged in aiding Ukrainian refugees. In the very first months following the Russian aggression against Ukraine, 40 PAFF leaders visited the Polish-Ukrainian border to work with organizations coordinating support for Ukrainians fleeing from the war to neighboring Poland. Also, three NGOs, where PAFF leaders were active, received grants for actions connected with coordinating the relocation of refugees in Poland and organizing the work of volunteers receiving refugees from Ukraine.
In 2025, in collaboration with the Leaders of Change Foundation, a several-month-long leadership course was launched for Belarusian citizens currently residing in Poland who are engaged in non-governmental, academic, or cultural activities aimed at local development and strengthening Polish-Belarusian cooperation. A group of 14 course participants takes part in workshops and webinars, during which they develop their skills in team management, grant proposal writing, and effective communication with the community. They also go on study visits, to learn about the principles of cooperation between NGOs and local government and the institutions that provide support to less experienced civic organizations.
The program’s twenty one editions that have been held to date have resulted in raising the qualifications of 980 local leaders from across Poland as well as creating their active nation-wide network, and educating 72 experts in employing the tutoring method.
PAFF has disbursed $7,954,412, including $337,061 for the current edition.
