History of the program

Bridge Scholarship Program was initiated in 2002 by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and it has been implemented by the Educational Enterprise Foundation. In October 2008 the 7th edition was announced.

In the course of seven years over 10.500 of young people from rural areas and small towns, particularly from former state owned farms, enrolled into studies owing to grants for the first year of studies. For the implementation of six editions of the Program the Benefactors have earmarked a total of over PLN 34.000, 000.

The first three editions of the Program were implemented in two segments, in the fourth edition the third segment was introduced. Starting from the 7th edition, the Program is conducted in two segments again:

SEGMENT IA
Segment 1A is targeted at young people coming from the former state-owned farms, 2008 high-school graduates. 352 grants were awarded. The Benefactors are: the Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFF), the National Bank of Poland (NBP), PZU Foundation, BRE Bank Foundation, Jan Kanty Steczkowski Foundation, The Academy for Training and Competence, in cooperation with the Agricultural Property Agency (APA).

SEGMENT IB
Segment IB is targeted at high-school graduates, participants of the third stage of subject olympiads conducted in secondary schools, young people who come from rural areas or small towns up to 20 thousand citizens. 52 grants were awarded. The Benefactors are: the Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFF), the National Bank of Poland (NBP), PZU Foundation, BRE Bank Foundation, Jan Kanty Steczkowski Foundation, The Academy for Training and Competence.

 

SEGMENT II
Segment II is targeted at 2008 high school graduates from schools implementing scholarship programs of local non-governmental organizations recommended by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland and Stefan Batory Foundation as well as grant holders of local organizations and non-formal groups appointed for the Bridge Scholarship Program through the contest " Diploma of your dreams". 522 grants were awarded. The Benefactors are: the Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFF), the National Bank of Poland (NBP), the Rural Development Foundation and the coalition of 77 local non-governmental organizations.

A scholarship is paid out in 10 monthly installments. In the course the first three editions grants amounted to PLN 380 a month, in IV and V editions PLN 350 but in VI edition it amounts to PLN 380 again.

The results from the 7 years of the Program implementation indicate that Bridge Scholarships are the solution which can and should take roots in actions for the benefit of educational advancement of young people from areas and environments which involve particular support. It has been acknowledged by the survey conducted by EEF among the grant holders from the five editions. They showed that the endeavor reached ambitious, young people with difficult financial situation. 50% of surveyed grant holders admitted that without the program they would not have been able to pursue higher education, 90% of students under the Program continues education in the second year, which is a very good outcome, especially taking into consideration the fact that beneficiaries of the bridge scholarship program have much more difficult conditions of the development in comparison to their counterparts from big cities. 30% of grant holders attain excellent academic performance during the first year of studies and 90% also during the second year.

Every institution which notices the necessity of the educational advancement of young people from rural areas and small towns and wishes to join our initiatives is welcomed to the program.