When the simplest help changes lives
Older, sick, raising disabled children, undergoing oncological treatment. The situation of many refugees from Ukraine in Poland is more than difficult. Without the help of the beloved ones, far from their place of birth and their country, they are trying to find their way in new circumstances. They are grateful for any help, because any support changes their lives.
Starting over after turning 70
Mrs. Ludmila is 73 years old, currently living in Białystok.
– I am from Kryvyi Rih. I lived in a ten-story block. When the war started, a rocket hit my block. Because of this, I have sight and hearing problems. Age also takes its toll. I need medicine and doctors. I need surgery.
Ms. Ludmila is one of the people supported by the Polish Center for International Aid Foundation (PCPM) under the program “Support for refugees from Ukraine on the path to independence through individualized support in the field of protection and access to the labor market” implemented with the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Norad – Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. The assistance is addressed to people from Ukraine in the most difficult situation from the following voividships: Małopolskie, Lubuskie, Podlaskie, Śląskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie. The program assumes financial support as part of a three-month allowance to meet basic needs and a one-time dedicated allowance to improve the selected difficulties, assistant support for families, contact with other organizations specializing in providing support and vocational courses for 200 people. That kind of help let Ms. Ludmila buy medicines and visit an ophthalmologist.
– I also have warm clothes for the winter, because I didn’t have any. I am extremely grateful, I would like to help somehow, because this support means so much to me – says Mrs. Ludmila.
Refugees in the most difficult situation
Most people from Ukraine are doing very well in Poland. According to a study by the National Bank of Poland, published in November 2024, 78% of Ukrainians are working or actively looking for work. In the last 2.5 years alone, people from Ukraine have funded almost 60 thousand companies, according to data from the Polish Economic Institute. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. About 70 thousand refugees from Ukraine are people who are over 60 years old. Also people with disabilities or those who raise children with disabilities.
– We wanted to reach such people – explains Magdalena Sośnia from the PCPM Foundation, coordinator of the NRC project – We selected for support people in an extreme difficult housing situation, in the event of a risk of eviction or homelessness. People who did not have privacy or basic utilities in their places of residence. The aim was also to support people without work or those who worked below qualifications, like Ms. Yulia – adds Sośnia.
The factors that determined the provision of aid also included: a difficult financial situation or exposure to social exclusion e.g. due to disability.
Yulia Proskurina comes from Sievierodonetsk, which is currently under occupation. However, Yulia has lived in Kiev for the last 20 years and the war caught up with her there too. She was waiting for treatment at that time, because it turned out that she had thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, most of the doctors left at the beginning of the Russian invasion and her appointment was postponed.
– Ultimately, I underwent the procedure in Lviv and only came to Krakow in December 2022.
Yulia has two children: a 5-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son who has autism. For the last 8 years, she has been at home on maternity leave.
– My son and daughter now go to Polish school and are doing well. I am happy, especially because of my son, because he has good psychological care. The teachers understand what’s wrong with him and also pay attention to his behavior.
– And how does he cope with Polish language?
– Better than me – laughs Yulia.
Yulia Proskurina is using the help from the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) for the first time. Thanks to the support, she was able to treat her children’s teeth.
– I work part-time, I am a cleaner, but I also have to be close to home because of the children. Now I’m also learning English langiage because I would like to return to my profession, but my husband mainly supports us. That’s why when I received support from the PCPM, I spent all the money on treating the children’s teeth.
The total amount of support provided by the NRC is over PLN 2 million (cca. 500k euro). Monetary support was provided to 933 people, and 200 people requiring more specialized help were referred to other organizations.
