Do you work in a library with passion and dedication? And do you enjoy inspiring others to act? Then Olga Rok Competition is for you! You have a chance to win a scholarship worth PLN 5,000.
The 14th round of Olga Rok Competition has begun, and the organizers are encouraging female librarians in public libraries throughout Poland to submit their applications. By sharing your stories, you can win money to fulfill your dreams related to your personal development. The Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland is accepting applications until August 31.
Why is it worth participating in the competition?
Female librarians from all over Poland can apply for a scholarship in two competition categories: smaller library and larger library. The scholarship amount in each of the two categories is PLN 5,000.
- Candidates representing public libraries located in rural and rural-urban municipalities and towns of up to 50,000 residents are eligible to apply for scholarships in the “smaller library” category.
- Candidates representing public libraries located in cities and towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants are eligible to apply for scholarships in the “larger library” category.
When evaluating applications, the Competition Committee will take into account the extent to which the candidate’s experience can inspire other women, what other libraries can learn from her, especially in terms of attracting new users and engaging in the life of the local community, and the candidates’ potential as leaders of change in their communities.
About the scholarship
The Olga Rok Competition scholarship is financed from the endowment fund established in 2012 on the initiative of Olga Rok’s granddaughter, Anna, who wanted to commemorate the life and work of her grandmother, a librarian from Warsaw. Its aim is to support the personal development of female librarians from all over Poland and to collect and appreciate the stories of women who, like Olga Rok once did, are able to motivate themselves and others to seek new solutions, break stereotypes, and support the development of their communities.
The scholarship is co-financed by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the Olga Rok Endowment Fund. The Fund Manager is the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland, which promotes the idea of endowment funds and iron capital as part of the “We are today, tomorrow, forever” campaign. The Substantive Partner of the project is the Information Society Development Foundation, which from 2009 to 2015 ran the Library Development Program aimed at libraries in small towns.
