Why does the Polish language matter for young people of Polish heritage growing up abroad? Is it about speaking with their grandparents, reading Polish literature and maintaining a connection with their cultural roots? Absolutely. But its significance goes much further.

At Polish Professionals in Madrid (PPM), we believe that speaking Polish can also be a valuable asset in building an international career, opening doors to new professional opportunities, networks and collaborations.

This was the perspective we brought to the 2nd European Polish Diaspora Leaders Forum, held in Rome on 9–11 October. The event was organised by Fundacja Edukacja i Przyszłość, with the support of the Instytut Rozwoju Języka Polskiego.

Together with around 30 Polish diaspora leaders from different countries, we explored how PPM’s activities can complement the invaluable work of Polish schools abroad.

Through initiatives delivered in Polish, including youth mentoring, professional development workshops, public speaking activities and the upcoming Polish Diaspora Youth Debates, we help young people discover the practical value of their heritage language. At the same time, we create opportunities for adults to use Polish in their professional lives – something that can often be missing from everyday life abroad.

We believe that preserving Polish identity is not only about cherishing our roots and cultural heritage, but also about creating opportunities for the future. The Polish language can be an important part of both personal identity and an international professional journey.

We are delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute this perspective to the discussions and exchange experiences with people whose work in teaching the Polish language and passing on Polish culture and literature to future generations is so valuable.

Our thanks go to the organisers and all fellow participants for the inspiring conversations, the opportunity to share our experience and the exchange of ideas on new ways to support Polish communities abroad.