Gfps Polska Society For Academic And Cultural Exchange In Central And Eastern Europe

The Society is associated with two associations in Germany (GFPS e.V. - founded in 1984) and in the Czech Republic (GFPS-CZ - founded in 1999), as well as with civil society organizations in Belarus. It's aims are: 1) the support of academic relations and cooperation between students and academics between Poland, Germany, Belarus and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, 2) the promotion of actions facilitating cultural and socetal exchange, the acquisition of languages, as well as the development of civic ties between the civil societes of Poland, Germany, Belarus and other countries from Central and Eastern Europe. GFPS-Polska's core actions are the implementation of a Polish-German and Polish-Belarusian scholarship programme, the organization of international conferences and academic seminars, summer language schools and the support of collective or individual research endavours. We strive to create events which allow students and young academics from our programme countries to get in direct touch and to forge frienships, which will drive international cooperation in the future. For many years GFPS-Polska enjoyed the patronage and support of the late Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski (Advisor to the Republic of Poland's PM on Polish-German Cooperation and former Foreign Secretary of the Republic of Poland, survivor of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp), who summed up our activity as follows: "GFPS works as a bridge between young Germans and Poles. This serves as a sign for a solid work towards peace."