President’s Special Fund for Talented Youth Support sums up its results

21 января 2016

By Vlada Karnitskaya: President Alexander Lukashenko has congratulated the laureates and scholarship holders of the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for Talented Youth Support on the Fund’s 20th anniversary. The laureates and scholarship holders of the Fund are the pride of the country, the congratulatory message reads. The President expressed confidence that the intellectual potential, industriousness and perseverance will help the awardees to be successful in their studies and work and make a significant contribution to the development of domestic science, economy and social sphere.

During the award ceremony at the Belarusian State University Lyceum the gifted pupils and students presented their scientific projects.

The idea of ​​establishing the Fund emerged in the mid-90s, when scientific research or creative activities became less prestigious. To change the situation, the country launched a deliberate policy of supporting Belarusian science and national culture, one of its priorities being helping talented young people.

Currently, there are two major funds in Belarus seeking young geniuses across the country. One deals with gifted pupils and students who might become scientists in the future; the other – with talented artists.

Besides, there is an electronic database of Belarusian geniuses, based on the two ideas - not to remain indifferent to the lives of these young people and to enable employers hire talented professionals.

Over the twenty years of its existence, the Fund has awarded over 30,000 Belarusians, among which are 14,000 students. 850 people became the Fund’s laureates.