Investing in young Poles living abroad, mainly in the Eastern countries, provides financial support and allows them to develop their talents and fulfill their dreams. They, while receiving, learn to help others,” said Fr. Dr. Lukasz Nycz, the deputy director of the Office of the Work of the New Millennium Foundation for the formation of scholarship recipients. The Foundation has already supported more than 200 young representatives of Poles abroad. October 22 marks the 45th anniversary of the inauguration of Saint John Paul II’s pontificate, the Foundation’s patron, and his liturgical commemoration.
Photo : New Millennium Foundation / Flickr
The Work of the New Millennium Foundation has supported gifted, low-income youth from small towns in Poland for 23 years. It has also opened up to Polish communities abroad. „A special program has been established in collaboration with two high schools in Warsaw, supporting children and young people from former Soviet republics. Often, their parents cannot afford their stay and education in Poland,” Fr. Lukasz Nycz stressed.
Among others, about 20 young representatives of the Polish Diaspora, mainly from the former Soviet republics, are benefiting from the Foundation’s assistance. Since its beginnings, the Foundation has already helped more than 200 young Poles from the former Soviet Union countries, countries in Europe, and other continents.
Also vital for the scholarship recipients is the experience of meeting Polish peers and support from the Foundation in adapting to their new environment. „It is with great joy that we see how these individuals are actively involved in the activities of academic communities in particular,” Fr. Nycz noted.
Deputy Director of the Office of the „Work of the New Millennium” Foundation for the formation of scholarship recipients thanked the Polish communities for supporting the Foundation’s activities, including during this year’s Papal Day. „We are grateful to all the Polish communities joining the organization and collection. These offerings contribute to the scholarship fund,” Fr. Luke Nycz stressed.
Sabina Dziakun was born in Grodno to a large Polish family. Her grandparents raised her. She has been in Poland for five years. She studied general journalism at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. She is now a student at the Academy of Music in Lodz. „The Foundation really wanted to help me and invest in my education and personal development. I cried at the time because I just really needed this help,” Sabina Dziakun stressed, adding that the Foundation is like a real family to her, which she never had.
She says that without the Foundation, she wouldn’t know where she would be now.”I realized I was not alone and had someone to count on. I can pay for the studies I’ve dreamed of all my life. I am incredibly grateful to the Foundation,” Dziakun noted in an interview with Family News Service.
While living in Belarus, he always dreamed of studying in Poland. „My dream has come true. I am a student, but the needs and expenses are also great. Still, I am thrilled to be in this community and participate in meetings, camps, and retreats,” said Dmitry Askirka, who is actively involved in the Foundation’s activities as a coordinator.
The origins of the Work of the New Millennium Foundation are linked to the pilgrimage of St. John Paul II to Poland in 1999. Initially, the program included a group of 500 young people from 5 Polish dioceses. After the success of the pilot year, the program was expanded to all dioceses in Poland. The first Papal Day was a collection organized in Polish churches. The circle of scholarship recipients systematically grew; today, it has already reached several thousand people.
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