Created by IYF and Polish leaders in 1992, the Polish Children and Youth Foundation (PCYF) is dedicated to the well-rounded development of Polish children and youth, ages 5 to 20. PCYF accomplishes its mission through furthering social awareness of children and youth issues in Poland; increasing local support for children and youth initiatives; supporting youth-led activities; replicating "best practices" for children and youth in Poland; and developing partnerships with community-based organizations and local governments for children and youth. PCYF's principle areas of interest include promoting equal educational opportunities, preventing alienation among the young, promoting cross-cultural tolerance, and preventing aggression among youth.

The Foundation cooperates regularly with 150 organizations from across Poland. About 250,000 children and youth and 3,000 teachers and educators benefit from various Foundation activities every year.

Illustrative Programs/Grants

• Where there are no preschools
  Through the program, educators trained by PCYF offer classes to groups of about ten children, aged 3-5. Classes, currently operating in 8 centers, meet three to four times a week.

• Teacher Assistance
  This program consists of two components: Creativity Stimulation and Teacher Support and seeks to introduce new classroom management methods.

• Building Civil Society in Rural Areas
  This program seeks to involve local officials, volunteers, teachers, parents, and young people themselves in the process of formulating local educational policy in the rural districts of Bartoszyce and Sepolno Krajenskie, and to create a partnership of doers who are committed to addressing the needs of local children.