"Horizons" Scholarship Programme

The First-Year Scholars were joined by their older colleagues and coordinators, as well as the EFC Foundation President Aleksandra Saczuk. Today, scholars “took over” our patio, filling it with enthusiasm and youthful energy. The young people were shown Anna and Jerzy Starak’s collection of contemporary art, and participated in an arts workshop entitled “Maria Jarema’s Compositions”, led by Zuzanna Zasacka, an educator associated with the Zachęta National Gallery of Art. The students used their works to express their creativity, sensitivity to colour, and a strong urge to experiment with form.

 

The Founder, Jerzy Starak’s son Patryk, as well as his wife Anna and daughter Natalia, actively participated in the young people’s works. Then, the scholars experienced the world of science, thanks to a meeting with Dawid Łyżwa, PhD, Head of Clinical Development at JJP Biologics, and Rafał Derlacz, PhD, a biotechnologist at Polpharma Biologics. The scientists talked about the development of biopharmaceuticals. This portion of the meeting aimed to encourage young people’s development and education in the field of science. The coordinators informed us that the majority of this year’s scholars are interested in these subjects.

 

Young people who have just started to form opinions about the world and the possibilities it provides are an exceptionally delicate and beautiful matter, because they are untainted by routine. It was a pleasure to talk to them for a while and take a small break from my daily work. When I mentioned that we had been building Polpharma Biologics for 12 years and working on a multiple sclerosis drug for 10 years, several people in the room had the same reaction, almost in sync: Oh dear, that’s almost as long as we’ve been alive! Longer than the primary school! It’s remarkable how such young people experience time. It makes us realise how much time you must sacrifice to achieve something.

– said Rafał Derlacz, PhD, about meeting with the young people

 

We were glad to spend the day with the young folk, talk to them and learn about their interests. At the end of the meeting, encouraged by getting to know each other, we took a group photo.

 

In the 8th edition of the “Horizons” Scholarship Programme organised in 2023, 249 students were awarded scholarships, and 160 of those were funded by the Starak Family Foundation. 71 scholars began their first-grade education.

 

fot. Igor Lelonek