Child Protection Poland Project #57273

To give back joy to 400 traumatized Ukrainian kids

by Fundacja Klementyna

Project Report | Jul 28, 2026
The Strength of Everyday Life

By KAma Jarzabek-Nowak | Project team member

Dear Friend,

When our project began, every day was about responding to a crisis. Children arrived carrying fear, uncertainty, and experiences that no child should have to face. Our priority was to help them feel safe again.

Today, the signs of progress often look very different.

The biggest victories are no longer extraordinary. They are wonderfully ordinary.

The Beauty of Ordinary Days

Over the past months, we have watched children and teenagers return to the simple moments that make up everyday life.

They talk about school projects instead of uncertainty.

They worry about exams, argue with siblings, celebrate birthdays, join sports teams, discover new hobbies, and make plans for weekends with friends.

For many families, these moments might seem small. For children who once had to flee their homes, they represent something much bigger: a sense of stability and belonging.

Supporting Every Child Differently

Although daily life has become more predictable, every child continues to need something different.

Some have been preparing for important educational decisions and choosing new schools. Others have needed support in building friendships, managing stress, or gaining confidence as they become more independent.

Rather than following one path, we continue to adapt our support to each child's individual situation, helping them move forward at their own pace.

Growing With Confidence

One of the most encouraging changes has been seeing children trust themselves again.

They are becoming more willing to ask questions, share opinions, try new experiences, and make decisions about their future.

Many of the conversations that once focused on fear now revolve around possibilities.

"What would you like to become?"

"Which school feels right for you?"

"What would you like to learn next?"

These are the kinds of questions that remind us how far they have come.

Looking Ahead

Recovery is not measured only by the absence of crisis. It is measured by the return of ordinary life.

Every homework assignment completed, every new friendship, every dream for the future is another step toward a childhood rebuilt.

Thank you for making these ordinary moments possible.

With gratitude,

The Project Team

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Mar 31, 2026
When Support Becomes Strength

By Kamila Jarzabek-Nowak | project team member

Dear Friend,

Since our last update, the young people in our program have continued to grow — not only in confidence, but also in their ability to take initiative and shape their own paths. What we are witnessing now is a gradual but powerful shift: from receiving support to actively co-creating their future.

Taking Ownership

In recent months, many participants have begun to take a more active role in decisions concerning their education, daily lives, and personal development.

We supported them in:

making informed choices about school profiles and future pathways,
setting personal goals and reflecting on their progress,
developing practical life skills, such as time management and communication,
and navigating responsibilities connected with growing independence.

More and more often, conversations that once started with uncertainty now begin with: “I think I want to try…” or “I have an idea…”

Youth as Co-Creators

A significant development has been the increasing involvement of young people in shaping the program itself.

Participants:

helped design selected workshops and meetings,
proposed topics important to them, such as stress, identity, and belonging,
and supported younger children as informal mentors.

This shift has strengthened their sense of agency and belonging. They are no longer just participants — they are becoming partners.

Building Confidence in the Future

For many teenagers, this period has also meant confronting important questions about the future:

Where do I belong?
What kind of life do I want to build?
What is possible for me now?

Through individual conversations, group sessions, and everyday interactions, we continue to create a safe space where these questions can be explored without pressure.

We see growing courage in imagining a future that is not defined solely by past experiences.

What We See Today

The change is subtle, but profound.

Young people who once needed constant reassurance are now:

expressing opinions and making decisions,
supporting one another,
taking small but meaningful risks,
and allowing themselves to think about long-term possibilities.

They are learning not only how to cope — but how to live.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, we will continue to focus on:

strengthening leadership and peer support,
expanding opportunities for skill-building and career exploration,
and supporting each young person in building a path that feels truly their own.

This is no longer just about helping them recover.
It is about walking with them as they grow into who they want to become.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,
The Project Team

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Dec 1, 2025
Supporting Children Through Their Next Stage of Life

By Kamila Nowak | Project team member

After our last report in August, the children and teenagers in our program have entered a new and important stage of their lives — one that requires not only emotional support, but also guidance in making decisions that shape their future. Over the past months, our role has increasingly focused on helping them navigate this transition in a way that respects their individual needs, abilities, and dreams.

Supporting Their Next Steps

As many of them moved into new schools, grades, or educational paths, we worked closely with each child and family to ensure they felt confident and understood:

their options for school selection,
the challenges of adapting to new academic environments,
their own strengths and preferences,
and the steps needed to plan for the future — whether in Poland or elsewhere.

For the older teens, this also meant conversations about:

long-term goals,
vocational choices,
building independence,
and imagining a life beyond crisis.

Individualised Guidance

Each young person continues to carry a unique story. Some needed structured consultations to manage school-related stress; others required help in understanding the Polish education system. Several children benefited from sessions focused on career exploration, while younger ones were supported in forming healthy routines and establishing stability.

Throughout these months, our goal has remained the same: to help every young person enter the next stage of life with clarity, confidence, and the sense that they are not alone.

Growing Into Themselves

We have observed a meaningful shift. The children who once arrived frightened and uncertain are now beginning to:

express their own needs more clearly,
take responsibility for decisions,
build new identities,
and imagine futures rooted in hope rather than fear.

Their growth is visible not only in the choices they make, but also in the trust they place in themselves.

Looking Ahead

As they continue to mature, our work will increasingly focus on:

strengthening their autonomy,
supporting educational and career planning,
and ensuring that each child receives the guidance best suited to their path.

These young people are stepping into a new chapter — and we are honoured to walk beside them.

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