Poland celebrated the 25th anniversary of the RITA program, accompanied by an international conference entitled “Ambassadors of Change in the Region.” The event brought together representatives of the public sector, experts, and leaders of change from different countries to discuss ways to develop international cooperation and strengthen social stability and trust in conditions of global uncertainty.
The conference was opened by Jerzy Kozminski, President of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, who emphasized the unique role of the RITA program as a platform for the exchange of experience between organizations from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus. According to him, Poland's experience of transformation remains important and relevant a quarter of a century later.
An important part of the anniversary was highlighting the active participation of partner organizations in the implementation of the program. IUEH is already implementing its third program within RITA, which demonstrates the continuity of cooperation and confidence in the results of joint work.
A separate part of the celebration was the presentation of a specially prepared video summarizing the stories and results of the RITA program projects. The video clearly demonstrated the scale of the program's impact, the diversity of initiatives, and the real changes that have been achieved thanks to international partnerships.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzDkAyK9DDI
Conference participants reached a common conclusion: even small but consistent steps based on partnership, knowledge of the local context, and the involvement of young leaders can bring about long-term positive change. RITA's anniversary was not only a celebration but also an impetus for new initiatives and cooperation networks in the region.