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. It 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 e-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 eighteenth edition alumna) 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). A total of 184 PAFF leaders ran for office in the 2018 local government elections, and 83 of them were appointed mayors, town or municipality councilors.
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.
Last year 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.
Last year the cooperation of four organizations – the Kościuszko Foundation, the Pogranicze Foundation, the Folkowisko Association, and the Zbigniew Pełczyński School of Leaders Foundation – resulted in organizing a series of meetings for young Belorussian leaders. The program prepared young people for taking on leadership roles in their communities, as well as initiating and continuing international cooperation between Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. Participants took part in workshops, webinars, and study visits to NGOs with experience in implementing cross-border projects.
The program’s twenty editions held to date have resulted in raising the qualifications of 926 local leaders from across Poland as well as creating their active nation-wide network, and educating 68 experts in employing the tutoring method.
The Foundation has disbursed $7,221,827, including $199,538 for the current edition.
