Paii Leaflet

7/27/2019 Paii Leaflet

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Polish-American

Internship

Initiative

Polish-American Internship Initiative

The Program enables outstanding

Polish students to take part in summer

internships at leading corporations

in the United States.


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The Initiative was launched in 2010 by the Polish-

American Freedom Foundation (PAFF) in coop-

eration with the U.S. Embassy in Poland. The opera-

tional activities within the Program are carried out by

the Educational Enterprise Foundation together

with American companies oering internships. The

initiative is primarily based on PAFF Programs such as

Bridge Scholarships.

This unique and prestigious initiative was reected in

an ocial Joint Statement of the U.S. and Polish Presi-

dents following their meeting in the White House,

December 2010:

President Obama and President Komorowski ap-

plauded the partnership between the Polish American

Freedom Foundation and leading U.S. companies to

bring Polish university students and young profes-

sionals to the United States for internships in the

private sector.

[The White House, Oce of the Press Secretary,December 08, 2010]

The Polish-American Internship Initiative oers an

exceptional opportunity for talented Polish stu-

dents to develop their professional skills through

learning from the best. The undertaking is imple-

mented with strong support from the U.S. Embassy

in Warsaw.

United States Ambassador to Poland, His Excellen-

cy Lee A. Feinstein said:

The Embassy is extremelyproud to support this initiative, which oers a unique

opportunity for talented Polish students to develop

their professional skills by learning from industry

leaders. I am thrilled that again this year, exceptional

Polish students will work with an outstanding group

of American companies, and look forward to the pro-

grams continued growth.

The Program presents an opportunity to apply for a

paid 2 - 3 month-long internship at American compa-

nies, a travel expenses subsidy and assistance in ob-

taining a visa. The internship is available for full-time

students of the second year and above at Polish uni-

versities, with uent command of English, achieving

the highest academic results and who have already

shown outstanding abilities and commitment.

The participants of PAFF Programs such as scholar-

ship holders of theBridge Scholarships Program(to

date a total of 14,500 scholarships have already been

awarded) and participants of the Student Volunteers

Program (over 7,500 university students involved) are

particularly encouraged to apply for the internship.

The Bridge Scholarships Program addresses the

disparity of access to higher education for talented

students living in rural areas of Poland whereas with-in the Student Volunteers Program groups of uni-

versity student volunteers implement - at schools in

villages and small towns - educational projects they

have prepared to help develop the knowledge, skills

and interests of the local children.

Jerzy Komiski, President and CEO of the Polish-

American Freedom Foundation said: The Polish-

American Internship Initiative really is a once in a lifetime

opportunity for those young people not only to learnfrom the best and enhance their competencies but also

to get to know America the American culture, heritage

and everyday life which, I am sure, will foster increased

cooperation between our countries.


On June 21st, just before their departure for the U.S., the interns met with Ambassador Lee Feinstein and PAFF

President & CEO Jerzy Komiski. The meeting was held in the U.S. Ambassadors residence.

The Polish-American Internship Initiative


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Program Results

The preliminary stage of the Program included the

International Internship Initiative, launched in

2006. PAFF together with the Educational Enterprise

Foundation and in cooperation with the American

Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw provided three

Polish students with internships at American com-

panies. Polish interns were hosted by: AIG Lincoln

Polska and the Lincoln Property Company in Dallas,

Texas, Mayday Manufacturing in Denton, Texas and

CEVA Logistics. Thanks to that pilot undertaking the

Polish-American Freedom Foundation has devel-

oped a set of enrolment procedures and acquired

know-how on the logistics of foreign internships(including visa application procedures and trans-

portation) that helped prepare and launch thefull

Polish-American Internship Initiative.

The hosting U.S. companies invite one or more in-

terns for a period of one to three months (June, July,

August). The Polish participants have just nished

their second, third or fourth year of university stud-

ies. PAFF and its Polish educational partners recruit

and pre-select intern candidates. The nal choice

rests with the hosting company.

PAFF covers the costs of the programs administra-

tion, travel to the hosting companys U.S. location (if

the company does not cover it), insurance, visa fees,

and assists in the visa application process. The U.S.

hosting company provides a stipend adequate to

cover at least the cost of accommodation and board

during the internship. The participating U.S. com-

panies are committed to providing a worthwhile

educational experience for Polish students. They also

provide the interns with mentors for professional de-velopment during the internship.

The participating U.S. companies are contribut-

ing to the success of an important U.S. Polish

initiative. By sharing knowledge and experience

they teach students to benefit from living in a

global, multicultural, modern world, thus creat-

ing a friendly, motivating and inspirational envi-

ronment.


The interns at the Polish Embassy in Washington, D. C. with Ambassador Robert Kupiecki.

Summer 2011

4 companies: GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy,

Westinghouse Electric Company,

Pittsburgh Glass Works and

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.

22 interns

Summer 2012

6 companies: GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy,

Westinghouse Electric Company,

Pittsburgh Glass Works,

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation,

Chevron North America and

Raytheon BBN Technologies.

22 interns


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In 2011 fourteen Polish students interned with Hitachi.

The interns visiting the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida.

Find us on Facebook

We kindly invite companies interested in participatingin the Polish-American Internship Initiative to visit our website:

www.stypendia-pomostowe.pl/PAII

The website provides information on application procedures,including the submission form and the timetable.


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About us

ThePolish-American Freedom Foundation(PAFF) was esta-

blished in the U.S. by the Polish-American Enterprise Fund.

In 2000 the Foundation opened its Representative Oce in

Poland and began carrying out its mission. The Foundation

pursues its goals through programs implemented in the fol-

lowing areas: initiatives in education; development of local

communities; sharing the Polish experiences in transforma-

tion. PAFF finances its activities from revenues generated

by its endowment, the source of which was the Polish-

American Enterprise Fund. The Fund has transferred appro-

ximately $255 million to the endowment. Since 2000 the Fo-

undation has disbursed almost $120 million for its programs

in order to bolster civil society, democracy, promote equal

opportunities and social development with a special focus

on initiatives aimed at leveling the playing eld in education

as well as reinforce citizens potential, particularly in villages

and small towns. PAFF has also partnered with the Bill & Me-

linda Gates Foundation to help Polish public libraries in rural

areas gain access to computers, Internet and training. As a

result more than 3,300 libraries are being transformed into

modern cultural, education and civic activity centers.

More information:

www.pafw.pl

The United States Embassy in Warsaw protects and promotes

American interests and develops relations with Poland thro-ugh contacts with the Polish government, business, labor,

agriculture, media and education leaders. Led by the United

States Ambassador, the Embassy team explains and advocates

the position of the United States Government on bilateral and

multi-lateral political, economic, social, and scientic issues; car-

ries out a wide-ranging assistance program designed to help

promote democracy and a strong market economy in Poland;

promotes the sale of American goods and services and Ameri-

can business interests in Poland and the region; provides visa

and other documentary services to foreign nationals; facilitatescultural and educational exchange between the United States

and Poland; and maintains contact between the Polish military

services and their United States counterparts while facilitating

cooperative activities in the region.

More information is available at

http://poland.usembassy.gov

The U.S. Commercial Service, the trade promotion arm

of the U.S. Department of Commerces International Tra-

de Administration, connects international rms to the

best U.S. suppliers. Located across the United States and

in U.S. Embassies and Consulates in nearly 80 countries,including Poland, the U.S. Commercial Service provides

a range of services to facilitate trade between U.S. busi-

nesses and International Buyers. Our Commercial Spe-

cialists cover key sectors of the economy and have the

expertise to help U.S. and Polish Businesses identify trade

opportunities, nd business partners, and obtain valuable

market information.

More information is available at

www.buyusa.gov/poland

T

he

Educational Enterprise Foundation was establishedin 1991 by the Polish-American Enterprise Fund and the

Polish State Treasury. The mission of the Foundation is to

support the development of intellectual asset for the mar-

ket economy. EEF accomplishes its mission by undertaking

activities that contribute to equalizing national and inter-

national educational opportunities for young Poles from

rural areas and small towns. The Foundation has 20 years

experience in developing and implementing academic andsocial scholarship programs in which more than 37,000

scholarships were awarded.

More information can be found at

www.fep.lodz.pl


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Experiences I gained and observationsI made are priceless.

[Karol Parys, intern at GE Hitachi, 2011]


It was the opportunity to meet

wonderful people.

[Marta Mendrycka, intern at Westinghouse, 2011]

The internship in the U.S. did broaden

my horizons!

[Mateusz Puapa, intern at Pittsburgh Glass Works, 2011]

www.stypendia-pomostowe.pl/PAII

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