Polish students at the Capitol – more than 50 people have already completed in ternships with us congressmen

Responsible for proofreading and translation: Paweł “Paul” Ruszczak

Since 2016, Polish students have an opportunity to go to the US and the United Kingdom, where they undergo internships in the offices of leading congressmen. The Politics Now editorial team decided to provide a special patronage to the Transatlantic Future Leaders Forum this year and to promote the offer of foreign internships.

Transatlantic cooperation is unique on a global scale

TFLF is a non-governmental organization that key project is an internship platform created to enable the most talented Polish students to undergo internships in the offices of representatives of the legislative power in Washington D.C. and London. Each year, the program takes the form of a competition for students, in which the committee selects approximately 30 people from several hundred submitted applications and invites them to participate in recruitment interviews. After a three-stage selection they have the possibility to work in the Congress. The best candidates are recommended and go on 8-week internships to the United States and the United Kingdom.

The TFLF internship platform is the only such initiative in the world. Polish students have the opportunity to complete internships in parliamentary offices in the USA and the United Kingdom, as well as meet the most important politicians, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the business world people on two continents.

During previous editions of the program, TFLF interns visited, among others: the headquarters of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Pentagon, Chatham House, the Polish Embassy in the USA and Great Britain, the Lockheed Martin technology center and the Boeing factory in Charleston. They also held a series of small meetings with leading politicians and representatives of non-governmental organizations, such as former US ambassador to Poland Daniel Freid, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Ian Brzezinski and Senator Bernie Sanders.

A chance for the best students

Students with Polish citizenship who are under 26 years of age, achieve very good academic results, and are fluent in spoken and written English are invited to participate in the recruitment process. Their major, and field of study are irrelevant. The interns included lawyers, economists, engineers, soldiers and doctors. People who are curious about the world and socially engaged will have the greatest opportunities.

“Participation in the Transatlantic Future Leaders Forum internship program gives a unique opportunity for personal and professional development. The recruitment process itself, which was multi-stage and demanding, was a valuable lesson in self-discipline and determination for me. It’s hard to put into words how much I learned during my internship in Congressman Mike Quigley’s office. This experience broadened my horizons and enabled me to acquire practical skills necessary to achieve success in my profession. I am convinced that the experience and contacts gained here will allow me to even better use my potential in my future professional career” – says Marta Gajda, a law student at the Uniwersytet Śląski in Katowice, and an intern in the US Congress in the 2023 edition.

Offer for everyone

Transatlantic Future Leaders Forum is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that enables young Polish students to complete an internship in the USA or the United Kingdom, regardless of their financial situation. Thanks to the reimbursement of travel, accommodation and visa costs in the program. Sponsors include not only private companies such as BGK, CEC Group, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, as well as the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the United States and the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.

“Thanks to the financial support of our sponsors, we were able to guarantee our interns accommodation for the duration of the internship, cover visa costs, and provide free airline tickets and organize internship-related meetings. Thanks to this, everyone could participate in the program, regardless of their financial situation” – emphasizes Rafał Libera, President of the TFLF Management Board.