The purpose of the program is to equalize education opportunities of children and youth from villages and small towns. Under this program, groups of volunteer university students carry out projects that expand knowledge, skills, and personal interests of children and teenagers. The projects are carried out in free time during the school year and during summer and winter holidays.
They focus on several leading topics, including: responsible use of the Internet, ecology as well as building and maintaining social relationships. The program encourages pupils to develop their skills by promoting positive role models and shaping university students’ sense of social responsibility and solidarity while providing them with an attractive way to discover and follow their passions.
Since 2003 more than 43,600 educational projects have been organized across Poland in about 3,200 schools with 16,000 volunteer students, involving more than 456,000 pupils.
The program gained support from two former Prime Ministers: Professor Jerzy Buzek and Professor Marek Belka who, during the 2007 summer holidays, took on the role of volunteers and taught classes for school pupils in several rural communes. In 2012, in cooperation with the Chancellery of President Bronisław Komorowski, the Modern Patriotism project was carried out as part of the program where Chancellery Ministers and Advisors visited schools in small localities. The project was designed to stimulate discussion about patriotism, shaping citizen attitudes in young people, introducing them to national symbols and local traditions, as well as promoting respect and tolerance.
“PROJECTOR – Student Volunteers” closely cooperates with a group of about a dozen accomplished education experts. Among them are: Przemysław Staroń, a psychologist, lecturer, trainer, and educator, Teacher of the Year 2018, the winner of the 2020 Global Teacher Prize; Anna Konarzewska – a teacher, educator, writer and blogger; Agnieszka Jankowiak-Mail, a teacher, educational activist, writer and blogger, the winner of the Irena Sendlerowa Award, and the Grand Press Freedom of Speech Medal. The experts assist student-volunteers in conducting projects, preparing materials and drawing up lesson scenarios.
Since 2011 the projects carried out by volunteer students have been regularly monitored and evaluated. This is meant to both assess the direct results of the entire program and observe its long-term influence. The biggest benefits mentioned by student-volunteers include opportunities to acquire practical experience, develop communication skills, meet people, and provide an occasion for their social activity to be seen and appreciated by their alma maters. The most important benefits of taking part in the “PROJECTOR” are emphasized by schools, which mention: expanding the educational offer, increasing school attractiveness, and positive reception of the program by parents.
The program launched actions to support Ukrainian refugees. In 2022 almost 100 student-volunteers engaged in 590 projects for more than 3,000 Ukrainian children at 93 educational facilities (2,600 hours of instruction).
The year 2023 saw a new event: the “Learning since Childhood” congress, combined with an expert meeting and convention of student-volunteers. The congress offered workshops, online lessons, and a discussion panel with teachers, principals, and parents. It sparked active discussions and exchanges of experience, and served as a platform for cooperation and analysis of potential actions benefiting children who live in small towns and villages. The turnout exceeded 800 participants.
The Foundation has disbursed $8,904,301 including $405,736 for the current edition.
