Between 18 th and 22 nd of October, over 270 students of our school took part in “Enter Your Future” project workshops taught by two university students from distant countries: Elzar Emanov from Kyrgyzstan and Kristiane Boesing from Brazil. Honorary patronage over the project was taken by the Ministry of National Education and Masovian Voividship (Province) Education Curator.

Their visit was possible thanks to an agreement signed between our school and “AIESEC POLSKA UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI”, a Polish branch of the biggest youth organisation in the world. Accommodation for the guests was provided by two students of our school - Mariusz Wolniewicz and Aleksandra Nowicka.

AIESEC is an international public benefit organisation composed of over members. It works in over 100 countries at about 1100 universities. Members of AIESEC are interested in current world problems, leadership and management. Thanks to international cooperation AIESEC breaks stereotypes and its members have a positive influence on local communities.

The aim of “Enter Your Future” project is to help people of our age to discover their potential. The trainees who visited our school helped us to plan our future consciously and determine our aims clearly, so that we can achieve satisfaction in life thanks to our entrepreneurial capabilities. They used group work, presentations, movies, and most of all, involved us in exciting discussions.

The first part of the workshop was dedicated to one of the main aims of AIESEC organisation, which is cultural integration of people from different parts of the world. Elzar and Kristine told us a lot about their countries - the history, geography, traditions, customs and even cuisine. We listened spellbound as they spoke, not only because the presentations were very interesting, but also because our guests used colloquial language, encouraged us to talk, and were really open and friendly.

The workshops were in English. This is another positive aspect of doing this project in our school. Even the most reluctant and shy people had to introduce themselves and say something about themselves in the language we have been taught from the time when we were in kindergarten. Despite some initial apprehension, many people broke the ice and got involved in the discussion, unconsciously improving their language skills and acquiring business vocabulary.

Our coordinators from Brazil and Kyrgyzstan spoke warmly about the welcome they received in Poland, about Polish people and about our town - Żyrardów. They encouraged us to visit their homelands, which would probably be easier to achieve by joining the AIESEC organisation. The whole project made a great impression. Even those who stayed indifferent to the programme and aims of the workshops must have liked the lively and positive approach of our guests to the students of our school.

After the project many people will surely think a lot more about their future and the opportunities that life offers. We know that entrepreneurship is one of the ways of taking the best advantage of them. Even more students got interested in the culture of distant countries and good relations with their inhabitants. And, undoubtedly, everybody would like to have in our school more meetings like this one, which leave only fond memories.

Polish text: Radosław Przybysz, IIIE English translation: Tomasz Adamiak, IIIA Photos: Anna Migda, IIIE Aleksander Melech, IA Presentation: Krzysztof Pazura, Ib Subject consultation: Danuta Paluchowska Language consultation: Danuta Czyżewska LLP-COMENIUS 2010 LO. IM. S. ŻEROMSKIEGO ŻYRARDÓW