HELP for war refugees from Ukraine in Poland

One Year, One horrible year!

From the very beginning of the conflict the Zywiec Development Foundation reorientated its activities to support Ukrainian refugees that were flooding into our region of Poland, and also to support wider programmes across Poland, Europe and now even as far away as the USA.

It has been a year where it has tested our Foundation resources to the limit. We have in this period of one year increased our administrative and project staff to over 30 people and all in all we now provide the wages for just under 200 hundred care staff, those in vocational training, teachers for the Ukrainian kids, those involved in the  Support Centre for Refugees ( Legal support, housing support, one to one therapy). We provide food aid and other materials here in Poland and also to Ukraine. We are training Ukrainains in new professions and have community social integration actions. We have therapy support groups. these include "Wool for Ukraine" which operates GLOBALLY! with support groups in Poland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland and the USA and  "Rock for Ukraine" which has provided music events for over 4000 children in Poland since it started in the refugee shelters in Warsaw in March 2022.  We have more than a hundred at any time on Polish language courses every day of the week.

Many of our core community activities still continue, not least the rennovation and repurposing of our buildings of the Foundation. This is an enormous task which we are trying to continue in this crisis. Its not easy as all available space (including those spaces detailed for rennovation) is in use at this time. We are even leasing extra office and workshop space to cope fr the short term. Our rennovation funds have taken a hit and we need funding to provide fit for purpose spaces for our normal and refugee activities.  

So one horrible year. We have now responsibility in our local region for the social welfare of over 2000 refugees. Our programmes extend to many many more and  every day we welcome new additions to our family here in Poland as the War continues. 

These combined efforts have a significant financial cost. These are activities we can not shy away from. They are basic every day neccessary actions and we have a constant need for funding. GlobalGiving has been great and an important contributor, but we need this continue and probably at an even greater level in the future.

Our love and gratitude goes out to all of you that support our efforts.

Today is the 300th day of the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine has been fighting Russia for 300 days.

Refugees have been arriving in Poland for 300 days.

For 300 days we have been helping those who need it.

What are we doing now in our foundation to help refugees?

- The Mother and Child Club has been operating since September, where classes for mothers and younger children are held twice a week. In order to meet the expectations and needs of the meetings, a Polish language course at the A1 level was organized for women. At the same time, children under the care of a Ukrainian teacher can develop their artistic and musical talents.

- There is an Integration Club for people over 50 from Ukraine and Poland. Participants meet to talk, get to know each other, take part in workshops and trips.

- We run Polish language lessons for refugees from Ukraine.

- We provide psychological and legal assistance.

- We continue to renovate our building to accommodate all the workshops and events we organize for refugees. We are still planning to create living rooms for those most in need refugees who have no place to live.

... and much, much more!

Thank you very much for your help and donations. Because of you we can operate and help refugees. 

We wish you Merry Christmas and all the best!