In April, International Programmes Coordinator for Christian World Service, Rob Wayne, visited Poland to meet with local partner the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). He was able to monitor the use of New Zealand government funding and meet with recent refugees.

The relative safety of Poland contrasted sharply with the war that is waging in neighbouring Ukraine. LWF is providing practical support to the refugees and helping them deal with some of the psychological challenges they are facing.

CWS is grateful to the many people who have given more than $209,000 in response to its appeal for Ukraine, launched 16 months ago. CWS also received $135,754 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist refugees. CWS made an initial grant of $50,000 to the ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) Ukraine Appeal but most funds have been directed to LWF Poland. In the first stage, LWF assisted over 2,600 people with three monthly cash transfers to eligible families, to provide safe spaces and psychosocial support for women and children and help people with disabilities.

“The programme was well organised to meet the needs of the people and has adapted as the needs changed,” reports Rob.

Poland has provided shelter for more Ukrainian refugees than any other country since the current round of fighting started in February 2022. More than 1.6 million people have registered with the United Nations Refugee agency (UNHCR) in Poland and by mid-May 8.2 million were spread across Europe. Most are mothers and children or older people.

In Warsaw, Rob met with LWF’s local Polish partner assisting people living with disabilities. As well as providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy and guidance on parenthood and sexuality, the partner was introducing some Ukrainians to extreme sports, like parachute-jumping and deep-diving to encourage them to overcome obstacles. Funding from CWS provided ten people with wheelchairs.

LWF runs programmes for refugees in six centres: Gdansk, Wroclaw, Ostróda, Zgierz, Bytom Miechowice and Bielsko-Biała , 75 percent of staff are Ukrainians.

Yulia who runs the centre in Wroclaw told Rob, “We like to show refugees that life has not ended. When you feel happier you can help other people.” Women like Maria (see story) have found this very true.

Mothers say the child spaces are invaluable. They can safely leave their young children for up to three hours while they attend job interviews or other appointments. The children enjoy the chance to play and make things. In recent months LWF has moved to working with teenagers and is setting up local clubs and sports programmes for community-based support.

In Poland the demand for psychological services has increased, especially from single mothers. The incidence of depression grows as people struggle to cope with family and friends back home and the needs of their children.

“People left the war and their problems behind in Ukraine. They were running on adrenalin at the beginning and did not want to talk about the war. It was only after half a year or more that they became aware of what has happened to them,” says Tetyana, a Ukrainian psychologist working with LWF. She estimates 17 percent of the refugees will need trauma and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) counselling support.

Refugees can access the healthcare system and other social services in Poland. Some receive pension payments from Ukraine but not enough to meet their daily needs in Poland. Ukrainian mothers with older children have found work and some are beginning to think about staying. Young mothers and older people find it harder to manage the rising costs. Children can attend Polish schools but because this education will not count if they return to Ukraine, many prefer to study online through the courses broadcasted by the Ukrainian government.

CWS encourages people to pray for all those people displaced by war.

Operation Refugee on June 20 and Refugee Sunday on June 25 are two opportunities for people to show their support for refugees. More information is available at www.cws.org.nz.

One Refugee Story

When the daily bombing became too much for Maria last year, she left her town near Zaporizhzhia to join her son in Poland. The large city in the southeast is home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and under Russian occupation.

Maria welcomed the opportunity to talk about the community and support she receives in Wroclaw at the LWF Centre. She found a part-time job teaching Ukrainian literature and languages, working with a local NGO.

She spoke to Rob after attending a Polish language class. If she can improve her Polish, there is a possibility of a job at a local school. Although Polish and Ukrainian use different writing scripts, 70 percent of their words are the same.

Maria says older refugees find it harder to get a job because employers ‘only want young and beautiful staff’. She needs work as her Ukrainian pension is not enough to meet her expenses in Poland or assist people back home. With some of her pay, she has bought Ukrainian schoolbooks for her teaching and sent easter gifts to soldiers.

When she talks about her literature and singing group, her eyes light up. In this group she has made many new friends. Rob was impressed by the way the women celebrated one member’s birthday. The women organised a party where everyone shared stories and poems. The women contributed enough to pay for one ticket so the newly turned 70-year-old could enjoy a local ballet.

LWF runs a number of community groups for older women involving activities such as knitting and embroidery. Maria says the group has helped her a lot and she wants to keep the programme going.