Andrzej Duda hosted US students at a ceremony in the presidential palace on Friday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The head of state said that the presidential internship programme was designed “to enable students from America to get to know Poland, its character and culture.”
He said 60 American students have so far taken part in the programme, “some of whom were of Polish descent, with Polish parents or grandparents … but many were US citizens with no previous links to Poland.”
Duda told the new interns: “I am very happy that you have chosen this programme and I thank you very much for your participation. It’s a unique opportunity to see a country that’s been developing dynamically for over 30 years.”
‘Poland is one of the fastest developing countries in Europe’
The president added: “Poland is one of the fastest developing countries in Europe. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, despite all the crises that have emerged recently, such as those caused by the war in Ukraine, Poland is still enjoying dynamic economic growth, compared with other countries in Europe.”
Duda also said that “Poland attracts many foreign investors,” with “one in four overseas investors coming into the European Union choosing Poland.”
'Poland is safe'
The president added that “although a war is raging beyond our border, caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Poland is a safe country.”
He added: “Poland is safe thanks also to its alliance with the United States and the presence of American soldiers in our country.”
'We are welcoming our neighbours from Ukraine'
Duda told American students they would see “Ukrainian flags flying in many places around Poland.”
He stated: “As Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, we are welcoming our neighbours from Ukraine, who are coming to Poland to seek refuge from war. We are striving to do everything in our power to support them.”
“You will be the first group of students on the presidential internship programme to witness this,” the president said.
Also present at Friday’s ceremony were the US ambassador to Poland, Mark Brzezinski; the CEO of the Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union (PSFCU), Bogdan Chmielewski; and the chairman of General Electric Poland, Marcin Wasilewski, according to officials.
The PSFCU's Chmielewski said: “This internship programme is especially important for people who were born in Poland, who hold Poland dear to their hearts, but who have chosen a second homeland, the United States.”
Chmielewski added: “It’s important for us that Poland’s image is portrayed in an appropriate way in America, that Polish achievements and Polish culture get the exposure they deserve and that Poland is well known in the United States.”
He also said it was “important to ensure that Polish-American relations are the best they can be, like they have been in recent years.”
The Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union is the largest ethnic credit union in America, the PAP news agency reported.
Polish president’s internship programme for US students
The Polish president’s internship programme for American students is designed to give participants a chance to discover modern Poland and gain experience through meetings with policymakers and business leaders, according to officials.
This year, American students are visiting the Polish capital Warsaw, the eastern city of Lublin, the southeastern cities of Rzeszów and Mielec, and the nearby towns of Chełm, Łańcut and Warka, the PAP news agency reported.
The interns will learn about Polish history, culture and traditions, according to officials.
American students will also get acquainted with the growing involvement of the United States in ensuring the security of Poland and other countries of the region, as well as with the efforts of the Polish authorities and public in helping millions of war refugees from Ukraine, the PAP news agency reported.
On Thursday, Poland’s First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda met with the PSFCU’s Chmielewski to discuss the internship programme and the efforts of America’s Polish community to support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion and help Ukrainian refugees, the presidential office said.
Photo: KPRP/Grzegorz Jakubowski
The PSFCU supports Polish organisations, schools and parishes in America to the tune of over USD 2.5 million a year, according to officials.
The organisation is also the biggest Polish American employer, with a workforce of some 320 people, mostly born in Poland or with Polish roots, the presidential office said.
Monday is day 460 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, prezydent.pl
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.