Patterns of identity
World Refugee Day – June 20 – is a reminder of the millions of people who are forced every day to leave their homes, their countries, their “normal lives.” But what often goes unnoticed in public discourse is the fact that people don’t leave everything behind. They carry with them something deeply meaningful: culture, memories, identity—things that have already endured so much.”
Identity doesn’t fit in a suitcase. It can’t be zipped into a backpack. It lives in fabric, in beads, in patterns passed through generations – ornaments and symbols that can survive both war and displacement. Still, a backpack can hold something that carries and expresses identity. Just like Zoriana, who, long before the full-scale war in Ukraine broke out, packed two embroidered shirts—vyshyvankas—into her emergency bag, just in case.
A new story every two weeks
We want to highlight this. That’s why every two weeks, we publish Patterns of Identity—stories about what refugees truly carry with them. From Ukrainian vyshyvankas and gerdans, to Palestinian tatreez, to Sudanese, Ethiopian, and Kenyan fabrics, jewelry, and handicrafts. Each of these patterns is more than just aesthetics—they are presence and memory.
A new story every two weeks
At the PCPM Foundation, we’ve been supporting refugees in Poland and abroad for two decades—through humanitarian aid, access to education, housing assistance, and integration programs. We act quickly, effectively, and with respect for every person’s dignity.
We publish Patterns of Identity to emphasize an important truth: Help isn’t just shelter or food. It’s also recognition. It’s saying: “I see you. I see your story. And it matters.”
