The First Edition of Internships organized by PSFCU and the Catholic University of Lublin

At the beginning of July, a group of twelve Polish-American students – members of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union – set off for Poland for a nine-day summer internship, organized jointly by PSFCU, the Catholic University of Lublin, and the Polish Diaspora Center at the Catholic University of Lublin. This internship is the result of a cooperation agreement signed last May by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Professor Mirosław Kalinowski, and the PSFCU President/CEO, Bogdan Chmielewski.

This year’s program participants spent nine days learning about Polish history, improving their Polish language skills, and visiting key sites of Polish national heritage. They also attended some special meetings. At the beginning of their visit to Poland, the students attended an official reception in Warsaw, where they met with the First Lady of the Republic of Poland, Agata Kornhauser-Duda. During the meeting, topics discussed included national identity, the role of young Poles abroad, and their contribution to promoting Polish culture
and language. “Thank you so much for taking on the challenge of learning Polish, which is often very challenging,” said the First Lady, addressing her guests. She also thanked the students for their “active work to promote Polish culture abroad.” “I am very pleased that you care about Polish culture, tradition, and language, cultivating them every day, far beyond the homeland of your ancestors. I am very pleased that such young people are taking the initiative to preserve Polish heritage,” she added.

The summer internship in Poland is the result of a partnership between PSFCU and the Catholic University of Lublin. The program is educational and integrative in nature and was developed for young Americans of Polish descent who want to cultivate their Polish roots—including language, history, and culture. The event is fully funded by the PSFCU, which covers the costs of airfare, local transportation, lodging, and meals. Additionally, each internship participant receives a $1,000 educational scholarship. This year’s scholarship recipients returned to the US with new experiences and relationships, which, as they emphasize, can bear fruit in the future, both professionally and personally. This program offers a real opportunity to build international contacts, develop professional skills, and immerse themselves in Polish culture. We encourage all young members of our Credit Union – at minimum sophomore students of undergraduate studies or higher – to take part in the next edition of the program.

The next edition of the Summer School is planned for July 2026. Applications will be accepted at the beginning of next year, and recruitment details will soon be available on the www.NaszaUnia.com website in the Student Portal section.