Kuley track 1: “Selection Process for the Kalinouski Program”

In the aftermath of the peaceful demonstrations of March 2006, when hundreds of young activists were expelled from state universities, Belarusian democratic leaders and the international community supported the idea of providing repressed young people with the opportunity to study abroad with great enthusiasm. But soon, doubts about and even sharp criticism of the Kalinouski Program replaced the initial euphoria. Initial difficulties and problems, unavoidable with such a large and complex program, were magnified by state propaganda and a lack of transparency in the selection process and placement procedures at universities in Poland. There were rumors that Belarusian students were living in unsanitary conditions and starving, that only the children of opposition leaders were selected, or that it was possible to buy a place in the Program. Only time will tell what is true and what is misinformation, but Inna Kuley claims that the criteria were the same for everyone and all Belarusians studying abroad on these programs will have their educational and living costs covered for the duration of their studies. The only condition is that students pass all their exams successfully. This is the personal responsibility of each and every student.