The PL+US Youth Forum: Better Together

On October 26, 2018, the Alumni Association took part in the first Polish-American youth forum organized in the newly-opened American Center Warsaw at Warsaw University of Technology. The opening ceremony of the American Center Warsaw was made by Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher and Polish guests: Jadwiga Emilewicz, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology, and Rajmund Bacewicz, host of the place and Vice-Rector of Warsaw University of Technology, who said that the Center shall offer resources for the nationwide American Corners network. In addition, training is planned here on issues such as modern technologies or entrepreneurship. Thanks to the Center and the American Corners network, young Poles will be able to expand their knowledge about the United States and build good and creative Polish-American relations.

Participants of The PL+US Youth Forum: Better Together Forum also took part in a networking session with representatives of the Embassy, the U.S. army, non-governmental organizations (including the Polish-American Freedom Foundation) and the Alumni Association, whose members include many teachers, educators and academic professors. We also had the opportunity to talk to the participants of the FLEX project, who during the forum took an active part in the discussion panels and were eager to talk about Polish-American cooperation. Morning and afternoon meetings concerned joint activities in the following areas: cultural exchange, democracy and civil society, security as well as economy and trade. The day-long forum enabled the youth to get acquainted with presentations of information stands, including our own modest participation. Noteworthy is the fact that over 300 Polish students could hear the inspirational speech of the Ambassador, who repeatedly stressed in her statement that Poland has its important history to tell the world and needs good managers to propagate Polish culture, science or business. She encouraged Poles to feel pride of their roots and measure high according to the “Dream Big, Go Big” principle. It is also worth mentioning that The PL+U.S. Youth Forum is a key part of the U.S. Embassy’s “Hundred Years Together” project, organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regaining independence and the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Poland and the United States.