Counteracting social exclusion

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One of the areas in which we have been active for many years is the fight against social exclusion. We believe that that we can create lasting change and help local communities. By conducting projects in the areas of education, culture and social solidarity – we support the development of children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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"Class" scholarship program

“Class” is an innovative scholarship program of the BNP Paribas Foundation in Poland. With the aid of the program gifted elementary and middle school graduates from smaller towns and poorer families can attend top high schools in 5 Polish cities. It is one of the longest-running scholarship programs in Poland, owing to which 770 middle and elementary school graduates from nearly 300 towns have gained access to the highest level of education and the opportunity for comprehensive development. As a result they are also able to attend their dream universities. In 2019, 33 scholarship holders from all over Poland joined the program.

Program participants receive full financial support during their high school education and a financial scholarship for the first year of university education. Each participant is guaranteed a stay in a dormitory (meals included), as well as textbooks, monthly pocket money and participation in extracurricular activities. “Class” scholarship holders also take part in an integration language camp, a holiday camp and have access to scholarship awards.

We also support volunteer initiatives of program participants. As part of the scholarship holder involvement program – “You can count on me” – students share their knowledge, skills and time. Program participants remain under the care of the Bank and have opportunities for further development within the Alumni Association.

Juliusz Słowacki 7th High School in Warsaw,
Polonia Belgijska 15th High School in Wrocław,
Bartłomiej Nowodworski 1st High School in Krakow,
Polish Navy 3rd High School in Gdynia,
13th High School in Szczecin.

To become a scholarship holder of the “Class” program, a number of conditions must be met: a grade average of at least 4.5, provenance from a town of up to 100,000 residents, family income not exceeding PLN 1200 per person, and a willingness to help other people. A letter of recommendation from the headmaster of an elementary or junior high school is also required.

Admissions to the program for the 2020/2021 school year will start in February 2020. 50 scholarships will be awarded.

111

scholarship holders in 2019 (including 33 newcomers to the program)

close to 1.2 PLN million

transferred for scholarships in 2019

>770

scholarship holders from over 300 towns during the 17 years of the program

>22 PLN million

invested in the education of youth

100 %

acceptance rate to higher education institutions

Find out more

Kinga Pańczyszyn-Liśkiewicz Head of the BNP Paribas Foundation in Poland

The main goal of the program is to give equal educational opportunities to young people from villages and small towns. “Class” is also a social investment. By building a community of scholarship holders and alumni, by motivating them to become socially involved and by supporting their initiatives, we try to prepare them for the roles of social leaders. About 600 people have completed the program over 17 years. Their achievements and the activity of the “Class” Alumni Association testify to the effectiveness of the initiative. However, we do not rest on our laurels - we are in constant contact with partner schools and scholarship holders, we conduct evaluations and react to the changing environment.

Agro-talents

„Agro-talents” is a comprehensive program for the development of young talents – a system of scholarships
for ambitious youth who see their future in agriculture. The aim is to improve the level of agricultural education, enrich the offer of agricultural schools and strengthen local communities. The program, which was launched in 2012, is the result of cooperation between the BNP Paribas Foundation, educational institutions as well as experts and clients of Bank BNP Paribas. The strategic partner of the BNP Paribas Foundation in this initiative is the Warsaw University of Life Sciences.

As part of the “Agro-talents” program, the Foundation offers scholarships to winners of the “Agricultural Knowledge and Skills Olympiad” organised by 8 of the best agricultural universities in Poland. Every year since 2012, about 40 scholarship holders receive support within the program. As part of the Bridge Educational Scholarships Foundation we support the most talented agricultural students after the 3rd and 4th year of studies – we fund 10 scholarships annually.

scholarship holders
in 2019

150,000 PLN

financial support in 2019

350

scholarship holders since 2012

Knowledge to the power - cooperation with the Ocalenie Foundation

In 2019 we continued the tutorship/scholarship program “Knowledge to the power” addressed to refugee youth from, i.a., the Ukraine, Chechnya, Syria and Iraq. In cooperation with the Ocalenie Foundation we gave program participants an opportunity to continue their education and find their way within the Polish education system. The regular support of volunteer-tutors (trained by the Ocalenie Foundation), as well as workshops, educational trips, cultural events and holiday camps enable young refugees to complete their current stage of education or to complete it with improved results.

From 2019, the program has become a part of the BNP Paribas Group European initiative for the integration of young refugees and, thanks to a 3-year grant from the BNP Paribas Group, will be continued in 2019-2021.

Find out more at: www.ocalenie.org.pl

school-aged program
participants in 2019

involved volunteers in 2019

50,000 EUR

funds for 2019 provided by the BNP Paribas Group

Dream Up

We have launched the 2nd edition of the Dream Up program in the Warsaw Praga district.

Dream Up is an initiative created and financed by the BNP Paribas Foundation in Paris and it is currently present in 29 countries. The aim is to educate and prevent social exclusion through art. 60 people – children, youth, amateurs, as well as people with musical experience – participate in regular, free music classes which include playing instruments and singing. Thanks to the project, the Praga Dream Up Orchestra was created. It meets regularly for practice, but also gives concerts during cultural events in the district.

The second edition of the program will last until 2021.

Zobacz efekty programu

998

hours of music classes in the 2018/2019 season

participants of the 2nd edition in 2019

"Meetings with music" program in cooperation with the Warsaw Philharmonic

The cooperation of Bank BNP Paribas, the BNP Paribas Foundation in Poland and the National Philharmonic has been active since 2003. We support the development of music and musical education. Since 2011, the Foundation has been supporting the educational program “Meetings with Music”. Students from 250 educational institutions (schools, kindergartens and community centers) in smaller towns have regular contact with this form of art. At each location 10 different concerts are performed during every season. These constitute a form of „music lessons” during which the youngest learn about music, its genres and styles, but are also actively involved. The program covers 7 voivodeships.

>2000

meetings in 2019

300,000

participants in 2019

concert programs performed in schools during each season

"How to differ beautifully" - workshop at the "POLIN" Museum of the History of Polish Jews

The BNP Paribas Foundation has been cooperating with the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews since 2018, thus supporting the educational offer of this institution. In 2019, we supported the organization of a workshop entitled „How to differ beautifully” addressed to schools and educational institutions. Children were able to learn that differences can be valuable. Bank employees and their children were invited to participate in the workshop; 50 people took part in the event.

"Let's meet" competition

In 2019, the BNP Paribas Foundation in Poland became a partner of the nationwide “Let’s meet” competition, organised by the FLOW Open Imagination Foundation and a coalition of NGOs under the patronage of the Commissioner of Human Rights, Adam Bodnar. Schoolchildren were asked to learn the stories of their peers representing national and cultural minorities and to prepare joint projects showing their traditions and culture. Students from all over Poland submitted 46 projects. The most interesting ones received awards during the Multicultural Final Gala. The BNP Paribas Foundation donated PLN 20,000 for one of the main prizes.

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