“During the evaluation process, the Competition Committee focused not only on examples of effective digitization of internal processes or the implementation of modern IT tools and systems. It was crucial for us to find an organization capable of combining the digital transformation of its own operations with the direct, practical use of technology – including artificial intelligence – in fulfilling its mission and supporting beneficiaries,” – emphasizes Radosław Jasiński, Program Director of Polish-American Freedom Foundation and Chair of the Competition Committee for the PAFF Sector 3.0 Award.

The aim of the Award is to promote and support good examples of the practical application of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, in the activities of non-governmental organizations. In the 2026 round, the competition attracted exceptional interest, generating a large number of high-quality submissions from organizations. This is a clear signal of the social sector’s development in the area of information and communication technologies use, including artificial intelligence, and the growing maturity of organizations in this regard.

This year’s winner, the ISKIERKA Foundation, was recognized for its consistency in developing and implementing new technological solutions, as well as its courage in experimenting and quickly translating innovations into tangible support. The award consists of financial support in the amount of PLN 40,000 for statutory activities and nationwide promotional efforts.

“In an area where time and the quality of care are of critical importance – such as supporting children undergoing cancer treatment – this approach is of exceptional value,” says Anna Kowalik-Mizgalska, Chair of the Board of the Orange Foundation and a member of the Competition Committee. “Particularly noteworthy is the innovative use in the past of, among other things, the Kinect console and VR technology. Currently, the organization is successfully utilizing artificial intelligence to create and scale a project of personalized therapeutic books,” she adds.

About the Winner

The ISKIERKA Foundation is a Polish public benefit organization that has been working since 2006 to build systems of financial, psychological, and social support for children with cancer and their families. The Foundation cares for over 700 children undergoing treatment primarily at specialized centers in Katowice, Zabrze, and Rzeszów. It implements nationwide projects and provides financial assistance to children receiving treatment at other centers in Poland and abroad. The Foundation has long incorporated the latest technologies into its daily operations and entered the competition with one of its newest initiatives. “TARCZA ZDROWIENIA” (Health Shield) is a therapeutic project by the ISKIERKA Foundation, dedicated to children with cancer and their parents. It is based on creating personalized therapeutic fairy tales for child patients using AI-based technology. The project aims to discover the child’s strengths and strengthen their mental resilience. The book comes in two versions, for girls and boys, to ensure the child can identify as fully as possible with the character presented.

“At the Foundation, we’ve combined a wealth of resources: psychological knowledge, new technologies, some funding, creativity, and the openness of the entire team. Something truly amazing has been created. Today, I have the immense honor of witnessing the moment when a child receives a book about themselves, smiles, and says, ‘Yes, that’s me.’ It’s also the moment when a parent is moved. When tears flow. When the narrative about the illness changes – about what it is, about the child living with it,” says Małgorzata Bereza-Stanisławska, a psychologist at the ISKIERKA Foundation. “We hope this impact will be long-term, but even the impact we observe on a micro scale is truly worth all the collaboration, work, and energy generated around it,” she adds.

Fourteen Years of the Sector 3.0 Award

The award is granted to Polish social organizations that innovatively use ICT in their day-to-day operations and in achieving their statutory goals. In previous years, the award was received by the following organizations: the Widzialni Foundation (2013), Itaka Foundation (2014), Katarynka Foundation (2015), TUS Foundation (2016), Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę Foundation (2017), Rzeczjasna Association of Possible Initiatives (2018), Watchdog Polska Civic Network (2019), Virtual Dream Foundation (2020), Demagog Association (2021), Homo Faber Association (2022), Little Brothers of the Poor Association (2023), Center for Civic Education Foundation (2024), and the Federation of Polish Food Banks (2025).

The Competition Committee consists of: Radosław Jasiński – Chair (Polish-American Freedom Foundation), Urszula Krasnodębska-Maciuła (ngo.pl/Klon-Jawor Association), Michał Jaworski, Jacek Królikowski (Information Society Development Foundation) and Anna Kowalik-Mizgalska (Orange Foundation).

“Sector 3.0” is a program of Polish-American Freedom Foundation managed by the Information Society Development Foundation.