Hope amid crisis
UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0705584/Kasia Strek HOPE AMID CRISISOne year of UNICEFs response in Poland for children and families fleeing war in Ukraine UNICEF Refugee Response Office in PolandMarch 2023 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Situation and response overview On-the-ground emergency support Keeping children learning and thriving Keeping children protected Supporting mental health Keeping children healthy Involving, supporting and empowering young people Social and behaviour change Funding Acknowledgements 4 6 12 14 20 26 28 32 36 39 40 2 3 UNICEF REFUGEE RESPONSE IN POLANDSince the war in Ukraine escalated in February 2022, UNICEF has worked in Poland to keep children... LearningContext Humanitarian response Protected Healthy Over 900,000 children are benefitting from expanded learning opportunities. Currently there are over 1.5 million registered refugees from Ukraine in Poland. An estimated 3.5 million refugees from Ukraine were in Poland at the peak of the displacement. Approx. 90% are women and children. Around 200,000 children whove fled the war enrolled in Polish formal schools and preschools. Around 500,000 children were supported with specialized early childhood development, digital learning in dedicated hubs for children and adolescents, or Polish language learning. Over 200,000 children and young people participated in extracurricular programmes in summer and winter camps developed by UNICEF, municipalities and other partners. Over 450,000 children and caregivers received mental health and psychosocial support. Almost 200,000 children benefitted from a national universal child grant thanks to UNICEF and partners. Over 15,000 children received individual child protection case management services through UNICEF-supported interventions. More than 570,000 services have been provided to children and families at seven UNICEF-led Blue Dots, including mental health and psychosocial support, a child-friendly space, child protection referrals and information on healthcare, education, housing and transport. Around 138,000 aid packages have been provided to individuals and families. These packages include essential supplies for hygiene and health, as well as food items. Over 370,000 women and children received access to health care services and essential health supplies. Over 150,000 children were provided with warm meals and complementary food in summer camps, preschools, primary schools and accommodation centres. For more info: www.unicef.org/eca/poland UNICEF/UN0755094/Moskalenko 4 5 Building the plane while flying itThere are currently more than 1.5 million registered refugees from Ukraine in Poland. Since 24 February 2022, there have been more than 9.7 million border crossings from Ukraine into Poland. In the early weeks of the war more than 100,000 people were fleeing each day. At the peak of this displacement there were an estimated 3.5 million refugees from Ukraine in Poland. Around 90% of the refugees are women and children. This was, and remains, a mother and child crisis. Every one of these refugees has been forced to leave their homes, their loved-ones, their friends, their belongings, their schools. Everything they have known. I have met many of them and what they tell me is heartbreaking. Our first office was a hotel conference room. UNICEF staff from across the region and around the globe surged to Poland to build a crisis response from the ground up. Every person had dropped everything to be here, including myself. I was previously UNICEFs Representative in Malaysia. I landed in Warsaw shortly after getting a call asking me to help in Poland. All of us were unified by a single mission to be in a place we were needed and started work immediately - knocking on doors and going to where we knew we could help. In partnership with PolandUNICEF is the largest child rights organization in the world. Established in 1946, we work in over 190 countries and territories. Where there is a crisis, UNICEF is there. A difference for us has been this emergencys context - there were no refugee camps, Polish people had opened their homes. We did not need to set up schools or health clinics, Poland was responding to the crisis. What UNICEF could offer was much needed support, supplies and technical expertise. Our entire response has been in partnership with Poland - its central and local government and its civil society and people. Over the past year, our role has been to strengthen existing capacity and support systems already in place, which have been severely stretched by the scale of this crisis. Without support from the international community, Poland risked being overwhelmed. We must not let that happen. I arrived in Warsaw shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine. I watched as thousands of refugees fled their homes each day and crossed the border into Poland. It was the fastest displacement crisis in the world, and the largest in Europe, since World War II. In my 25 years plus with UNICEF and the UN, I have never seen anything like it. We had to work swiftly to establish a UNICEF response office, a team, and a response to a situation that has devastated the lives of hundreds of millions of children. Introduction from Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar Country Coordinator, UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland Staying to support as needed Unfortunately, the war and suffering continue. A year on, this remains an emergency. Families who have fled from the war into Poland continue to need support. This is not a one time response. I often think of a small girl I met in Poznan. She lives with her grandmother. Her father was killed in battle and her mother works as a doctor on the frontline. Every night they sing Ukrainian songs and plan for the day they will return. They have lost everything but they are safe. She is not the only one - this is a common story. I am here because every child like her deserves to be cared for, to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse - and to learn and thrive. My wish for the children of Ukraine in 2023 is peace. UNICEF will remain in Poland as long as we are needed. There is still a huge amount of work to be done to support families whove fled conflict and to protect and support the most vulnerable. A child is a child, no matter what. Thank you for your supportI give my heartfelt thanks to every person and organization who has worked with UNICEF over the past 12 months. This has been an extraordinary situation and we should all be proud of the care, love and support shown for the people of Ukraine in Poland. Our vital efforts would not be possible without your support and for this we are truly grateful. Our work in partnership with national and municipal government and NGOs has helped keep children learning, healthy and safe. Generous contributions from public and private donors have meant we can address the immediate and critical needs of refugees. The flexible commitments of public sector partners remain vital for this response. Fundraising campaigns by UNICEF National Committees, including our Polish National Committee, and country offices around the world have generated significant, timely resources both from individuals and the private sector. These are invaluable. Thank you again. We count on all of your continued support so we can keep delivering for children in Poland whove fled war. Introduction 6 7 SITUATION AND RESPONSE OVERVIEW 9.7 millionborder crossings from Ukraine into Poland since 24 February 2022 ~90%refugees from Ukraine in Poland are women and children 6 Situation and response overview @UNIEF/UN0727823/Reklajtis This report outlines the work of the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland a year on from its formation. The office was established days after war broke out in Ukraine to respond to the resulting and devastating refugee crisis. This section looks at the situation for children and families coming to Poland from Ukraine, and how UNICEF has responded, including through cooperation and collaboration with key partners in Poland. The following sections outline the response across each of our programme areas and the results we are seeing. The priority of the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland is to support families who have fled the war. We work with partners to deliver services to keep children learning, healthy and protected. We support caregivers by providing necessary and lifesaving information. And we help everyone start the long journey to recovery. At UNICEF we stand with the children of Ukraine and will continue working with partners to support them through this war and beyond. We recognize that the war and resulting refugee crisis are far from over - but we will remain in Poland as long as our presence is needed. An unprecedented refugee crisis The children and families of Ukraine have now endured over 365 days of violence, trauma, loss, destruction and displacement since the war escalated on 24 February 2022. In that time, there has been more than 9.7 million border crossings from Ukraine into Poland. In the early weeks of the war, more than 100,000 people were fleeing each day and at the peak of this displacement there were an estimated 3.5 million refugees from Ukraine in Poland. This has been the fastest displacement crisis in the world, and the largest in Europe, since World War II. There are currently more than 1.5 million registered refugees from Ukraine in Poland. The overwhelming majority, around 90%, are women and children. For the refugees, the experience will have lasting physical and psychological impacts. This can prevent children from reaching their full potential and negatively affect their future. Our work here is to intervene and stop this from happening. For Poland, this crisis has meant a sudden and significant scale up in demand for education, health and protection services. Poland is a high-income, stable country, and a member of the European Union. It has the systems in place to protect and care for its people, including its children. The country has seen its share of emergencies, wars and terror, but it has been many decades since it has dealt with a crisis like this. Poland has provided a model response to a humanitarian crisis, bolstered by tremendous public solidarity for Ukraine. However, the sudden influx of people has put extraordinary pressure on its capacity to support them. At the same time, the humanitarian situation in parts of Ukraine is deteriorating and attacks on critical energy infrastructure are taking their toll. While some have returned to Ukraine, others keep arriving. Extra support is required for the most vulnerable who have had very difficult experiences and sometimes long, arduous journeys. A year on, we must also recognize it can become harder for an entire country to keep up the same level of support. As Poland continues to adjust to this reality, UNICEF is working very closely with the government and partners to keep supporting as much as we can. 8 9 Working in partnership with Poland and its peopleIn Poland, the context and unique situation mean that partnerships are key, even more so than in other humanitarian responses. We are here to strengthen the support systems of central and local governments. We have not looked to set up parallel structures or systems, instead we have co-designed and worked alongside the Polish government at local and central levels, and with civil society to provide technical expertise, supplies, resources and capacity building. We believe partnerships and collaborative relationships are critical to delivering results for children and to ensure they can realize their rights. Our partnership approach in Poland has been twin track: At the national level, a systems-strengthening approach through partnerships with the Ministries of Health, Education, Justice, and Family and Social Policy. At the local level, scaling up of vital frontline services in cooperation with municipalities. We have signed work plans with the 12 cities that have welcomed an estimated 75% of refugees from Ukraine. Municipalities are an important part of the response due to Polands decentralized system of service provision. A Special Act on the Protection of Refugees from Ukraine also delegates new responsibilities to local authorities which has put added pressure on service delivery and capacity. Partnerships with a large group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society are also critical. These groups have local access, knowledge and experience that ensures key gaps in government service provision are filled. Through NGOs we can also reach the most vulnerable, including children with disabilities and displaced Roma families who require targeted and specialist support. Partnership and funding from the international community has been vital to support Polish social services. We must not lose sight of this and leave the Polish people to shoulder the burden of this continuing crisis alone, particularly as the months and the war drag on in Ukraine. Many of those arriving now have more complex needs than refugees who came before them. They have not had the resources to leave earlier, or are fleeing from areas where active military operations are taking place or occupied territories meaning they are especially vulnerable. At the same time, the response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis has demonstrated what is possible when welcoming refugees. From opening education, health and protection systems, to providing opportunities for families from Ukraine to find new careers and communities. When refugee families can access primary healthcare, education and social protection services, it creates a win-win situation where local communities and economies benefit from accelerated social and economic development. Poland has provided pivotal historic support to UNICEF and childrens rights, through Ludwik Rajchman, who helped pave the way for the founding of UNICEF. Additionally, in 1979, Poland played a vital role in the drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, our guiding document. The countrys commitment to childrens rights is well demonstrated historically and continues through this current crisis. Furthermore, as UNICEF continues to evaluate its response in this high-income and stable EU country and share learnings with the Polish Government and civil society, Poland is continuing to help make UNICEF a better and more effective organization in helping children in multiple contexts. Where there is a crisis, UNICEF is there A year ago, UNICEF did not have an office in Poland to implement humanitarian programmes. Our UNICEF Poland National Committee works to fundraise and raise awareness of our work around the world. The need for a Poland-based emergency response office was clear immediately after the war broke out when we saw the extraordinary numbers of displaced children and families entering the country. UNICEF stands with all refugee children, because no matter where they are from and when they are forced to flee, they are children first and foremost. A child is a child, no matter what. It is our job to be here to support children through this crisis. Where there is a crisis, UNICEF is there. UNICEF did not have recent humanitarian programming experience in Poland. Immediately after the start of the war we worked quickly to gain the agreement we needed from the Polish Government. We officially started our programme to support refugee families and children in mid-March. The UNICEF National Committee in Poland provided good support in building partnerships with local government. UNICEF has extensive experience providing aid on an international and local scale. Each situation is different and requires a unique response based on the circumstances and context. In all situations our focus is the child. We are guided by the best interest of children and adapt our approach accordingly. Situation and response overviewSituation and response overview U NIC EF/ UN 06 0735 8/E ng lish I did not like it here in Poland at first. It was not nice. We did not know anyone, I couldnt understand anything people were saying and it was difficult for me. It became better after a few months, and now I have a few friends, but I still miss home very much. Yura, 10 attends a support centre in Krakow @U NIC EF/ UN 0718 280/ Mo skal enko Timely psychological support is crucial for children and families with direct and indirect traumatic experiences of war. During an ongoing armed conflict, children are the most vulnerable group, whether they are victims, witnesses or friends of other children who were personally affected. UNICEF/UN0718250/Moskalenko UNICEF/UN0718376/Reklajtis 10 11 Health: helping mothers and children to thriveThis mother-and-child displacement crisis has exerted extra pressure on Polands healthcare system given the specific needs of mothers, children and newborns. Its vital those whove fled this brutal war have access to health care, immunization and advice on feeding babies and young children. Low immunization rates in Ukraine mean that refugees are at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization must be a priority. Adolescent participation: engaging and supporting young people Adolescents make up a large proportion of those whove fled war in Ukraine to Poland. Not only have they been uprooted from their communities and support systems, many have seen their homes or neighbourhoods destroyed or lost loved ones. Young refugees need a sense of belonging, predictability and purpose. Mental health and a lack of engagement or participation is a major concern for young people who have been dislocated from their homes, lives and country. But through active participation, they can be empowered to play a vital role in their own development as well as in that of their communities. Social and behaviour change: giving people the information and tools they need to succeedSocial and behaviour change helps families access information and navigate the decisions that affect their lives. In this uncertain situation, refugees can struggle to navigate support systems due to a lack of or overwhelming amounts of information, barriers to services, as well as potential fears or stigma. We must empower people through agency, information and knowledge to start to build a new life. Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) We make every effort to prevent the sexual exploitation and abuse of children by aid workers in all UNICEF responses, and especially in humanitarian contexts. This work falls under the United Nations Secretary Generals UN system-wide strategy on PSEA. Our work in this area includes capacity building sessions and action plans on PSEA developed with all UNICEF partners across Poland. Almost 450,000 people in Poland now have access to safe reporting channels to report sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers, through Blue Dots and other interventions supported by UNICEF and municipality and NGO partners. Situation and response overview There are multiple pillars to our response. These focus on the fundamental needs of refugee children. They are: Humanitarian response: frontline support for children and young peopleThe situation for families in and leaving Ukraine continues to be very challenging. Its critical we provide on-the-ground and immediate support, supplies and services to the thousands of people fleeing Ukraine, especially those who are newly arriving. Decisive and timely humanitarian action protects families and children. Education: keeping children and young people learningAccess to education is a fundamental right and can mean the difference between hope and despair for a refugee child. If children and young people whove fled the war in Ukraine are not given the opportunity to continue their education, or maintain their love of learning, their lives will be infinitely harder in the future. Early childhood education and development is fundamental for the social and emotional wellbeing of young children. It allows children to grow and develop to their full potential. Ukrainian children who are not enrolled miss out on crucial learning and development opportunities, as well as support to express and understand their feelings about being dislocated from their homes and separated from their fathers and wider families. Child protection: protecting our most vulnerable Children escaping conflict are especially vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse. We must protect them. In particular, the risks of girls and women facing gender-based violence soars and the possibility of human trafficking and sexual exploitation increases in times of displacement. Children with disabilities and children evacuated from Ukrainian childcare institutions are particularly vulnerable and unprepared for life in a new country. Mental health: supporting wellbeing and recoveryThe mental health and psychosocial toll of the conflict is immense. The experience as a refugee presents a host of challenges to a persons wellbeing, and specifically to their mental health. Children exposed to conflict can suffer severe psychological consequences. Not addressing mental health issues can stall a childs development and stop them participating meaningfully in society. Mental health and psychological support is vital to help families and children coming from Ukraine heal from the invisible wounds of war. A child centred response Situation and response overview10 11 12 13 2. Delivering essential supplies The war in Ukraine left families in shock, desperate for safety, and in need of essential supplies. In response, UNICEF has provided thousands of crucial products including first aid kits, medical equipment, hygiene supplies, food items and education materials. Around 138,000 aid packages have been provided to individuals and families through our joint work with municipalities and local NGOs. These packages include essential supplies for hygiene and health, as well as food items. Currently, 10,000 first aid kits, 4,000 institutional hygiene kits (one kit is for 50 people) and 80,000 family hygiene kits (each kit is for a family of four) are being delivered by UNICEF. These will benefit more than 350,000 refugees. U NIC EF/ UN 06 84 971/ Ko rta Since the war broke out in Ukraine, Joanna, 23-year-old Scout from Poland, has been actively involved in the refugee response. Fluent in Ukrainian, Polish and English, she volunteered at the registration desk at the Poland-Ukraine border, helping refugees from Ukraine find their way around their new reality. Now Joanna works as a coordinator at a Blue Dot Support Hub at Medyka border crossing point, helping the refugees by providing them with necessary information, psychological support upon arrival and humanitarian assistance. Municipalities have been distributing the items to schools, kindergartens, community centres and support hubs. Supplies are also being delivered to collective accommodation centres for refugees and Blue Dot Support Hubs. This ensures critical support to families still fleeing the war in Ukraine. This work has been even more critical over the winter months as electricity costs increase, accommodation centres require better insulation and people look for warmer clothes and bedding. Over this time we have been focused on meeting increased needs and demand for essential supplies, such as blankets and warm clothing. Our work to procure and distribute essential supplies will keep going as refugees continue to arrive in Poland who need our support. After long and often arduous journeys, people arrive disoriented. Coming to a new country, starting life in a new, unknown reality can be scary and overwhelming, especially for refugees with children. At Blue Dots, they can rest, children can play in child-friendly spaces, while parents get information and practical support to help them on their onward journey or with settling in. Joanna 23-year-old Scout from Poland 138,000aid packages have been provided to individuals and families 570,000services provided to children and families at seven UNICEF-led Blue Dots 350,000refugees benefitting from hygiene kits 12 ON-THE-GROUND EMERGENCY SUPPORT 1. On-the-ground supportWe provide immediate support through Blue Dot Support Hubs established jointly with UNHCR and partners. Seven UNICEF-led hubs have been set up in critical locations including border crossing points, train and bus stations, and accommodation centers. The hubs are central to our response. The Blue Dots are safe spaces where Ukrainian and Polish staff provide up-to-date and accurate information about accommodation, travel and services. They guide people on their rights and entitlements under temporary protection status and asylum procedures and they help with family reunification. Local NGOs, including Scouts, have been central to the work at Blue Dots, which are a true hub for people coming from Ukraine and looking for support to start again. UNICEF is on the ground providing support and supplies for families in need during the humanitarian emergency that has resulted from the war in Ukraine. This recognizes that decisive and timely humanitarian action in Poland protects families and children. Our humanitarian response to the refugee crisis includes: Blue Dots ensure access to services and legal support, referrals to health care, education, psychosocial and mental health support and more. They have child and family-friendly spaces, private rooms for breastfeeding and nursing, and are safe spaces for rest after distressing and often arduous journeys. Trained psychologists are among the Ukrainian staff employed at Blue Dots and they can provide psychological first aid to refugee parents and children. More than 570,000 services have been provided to children and families fleeing war in Ukraine at the hubs. This includes mental health and psychosocial support, the use of a child friendly space, child protection referrals and information on healthcare, education, housing and transport. On-the-ground emergency support U NIC EF/ UN 06 49 08 3/K ort a 14 15 900,000children benefitting from expanded learning opportunities 500,000children supported with early childhood development, Polish language or digital learning in hubs 200,000children and young people have participated in extracurricular programmes in summer and winter camps 14 The focus of our education programme is to make sure all children in Poland whove fled war in Ukraine can learn and thrive. To do this we have developed multiple pathways for learning that have helped more than 900,000 children and young people engage in formal and non-formal education. This includes around 200,000 children who have enrolled in Polish formal schools and preschools, and around 500,000 children who have been supported with specialized early childhood development, Polish language learning or support for digital learning in dedicated hubs for children and adolescents. These numbers include children with disabilities who have been provided specialist support. More than 200,000 children and young people have also participated in extracurricular programmes in KEEPING CHILDREN LEARNING AND THRIVING This year, for the first time in her 16 years as a teacher, 80 out of 450 students in her school are children from Ukraine. With six Ukrainian intercultural assistants hired with UNICEF support, the school offers not only access to quality learning to the students, but also psychosocial support to parents and a helping hand to Polish teachers. We open our doors to all children and we do not differentiate by the country they come from or the language they speak. Quality education is the right of every child and we do our best to provide it. Magdalena Mazur principal at Krakow school no. 12 U NIC EF/ UN 06 9713 1/-K ort a summer and winter camps developed by UNICEF, municipalities and other partners. To make sure there is a coherent and coordinated response to providing education for refugee children, UNICEF leads the Education Sector Working group.This includes municipalities and more than 40 civil society organizations. Every member is focused on providing quality and inclusive education that meets international guidelines and humanitarian principles. The chance to learn and be in a safe space together with peers and teachers doesnt just deliver education, it brings a crucial sense of stability, normalcy and hope to war-affected children and young people. Our priority is to reach every child who arrives in Poland fleeing conflict to ensure they can socialize, develop, and learn. Keeping children learning and thriving UNICEF/UN0697234/Korta 16 17 2. Provided support for students to continue their Ukrainian education Many children, especially older students, want to continue to study the formal Ukrainian curriculum. UNICEF recognizes the value in this approach and has partnered with local governments and NGOs to establish 61 Education and Development Hubs in cities with high refugee populations. The Hubs have IT equipment for attending online classes and accessing the online Ukrainian formal learning platform. There are teachers and support workers who have been provided with specialist training and development to help with homework, lead Polish language lessons, and provide mental health and psychosocial support. The Hubs give children opportunities to develop skills, participate in extracurricular courses, and to connect with peers and their local community. Additionally, UNICEF has worked with NGOs in cities with large refugee populations to support the running of new Ukrainian schools. These are accredited by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science to follow the Ukrainian curriculum. Demand is high, with more than 8,000 children from Ukraine enrolled and more looking for places. She now lives in Bialystok and attends kindergarten no. 52, which is supported by UNICEF. I was sad to leave all my friends and my toys at home back in Ukraine. But at the kindergarten here I have new friends and I can play with them. This makes me happy, Kira 6 years old, from Zhytomyr Oblast in the north of Ukraine U NIC EF/ UN 075 354 4/R ekla jtis Keeping children learning and thriving 1. Invested in strengthening the Polish school system to expand access to quality education: Alongside municipalities, we have helped recruit and deploy around 1,400 Ukrainian teaching assistants. Their job is to support the integration of refugee children into the Polish system and provide a positive learning experience to children in need. A further 5,000 Polish teachers and assistants have been given training and support to meet the specific needs of children coming from Ukraine. We have distributed almost 17,000 digital tablets and 1,400 computers to children, teachers and schools to speed up language learning and bridge learning gaps. On top of this we have provided preschools and schools with learning kits, classroom furniture, playgrounds and sports equipment. Over 200 IT labs and more than 420 libraries have been established or supported by UNICEF. More than 600,000 children in 2,220 education institutions, including schools, community centers, daycares and preschools have been supported with learning materials and resources through UNICEF. These investments in the Polish system are provided to whole classrooms, schools and preschools, meaning Polish children benefit in addition to their Ukrainian peers. We are also working with central and local go-vernments on a process to recognize the qualifications of Ukrainian teachers. This will allow teachers from Ukraine to officially teach in Polish schools, help alleviate teacher shortages, and provide much-needed incomes for Ukrainian teachers in Poland. Close to 20,000 teachers and education personnel have taken part in professional development opportunities organized by UNICEF and partners. This focuses on classroom management, multicultural competencies, teaching Polish as a foreign language, inclusive education and mental health support. To support language learning and integration into the education system, we have provided Polish language classes to more than 11,000 children and young people and to almost 4,500 parents. We are rolling out the Akelius-UNICEF partnership language platform to support digital education and further Polish language learning. In cooperation with the Polish Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), UNICEF has made available the Learning Passport on the MoES website. This provides resources in Ukrainian for teachers and learners with a focus on mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, UNICEF and the MoES plan to work together on a digital transformation policy to ensure all children have equal access to digital learning opportunities. In Ukraine Kateryna worked in schools and always loved her job. She speaks Polish fluently and wants to support children who had to flee their homes. Kateryna helps children like Yeva (left) and Amina (right) to understand the teacher, learn and make friends with their Polish peers and enjoy their classes. I want to help and work with children because I know how important it is. I am a mother myself. Kateryna multicultural assistant in Lublin schools U NIC EF/ UN 0770 98 3/R ekla jtis Keeping children learning and thriving U NIC EF/ UN 06 941 14/M osk alen ko Over the last 12 months our education programme has: 18 19 4. Provided tools to help the most vulnerableUNICEF is working with the MoES in Poland to ensure accessible and inclusive education for all children coming from Ukraine, including those with disabilities. This includes professional development for educators, particularly specialist teachers and principals, on how to support learners, parents and teachers. We also work with central and local government to raise awareness of accessible and inclusive education, modern pedagogical approaches and best practices. This is to ensure all children, with a focus on children with disabilities, have a fair chance to go to school, learn and develop the skills they need to thrive. As part of this work, around 16,000 educators will be trained in how to support inclusive education for all children in preschools and schools across Poland. 5. Made sure people know how and where to access learning and education In summer 2022, UNICEF led a Back-to-Learning campaign through the Education Sector Working Group. This was to help newly arrived refugees find out about education opportunities and get ready to start school. The campaign reached more than 600,000 people in August and September 2022. A dedicated toll-free education hotline was launched by UNICEF in collaboration with the MoES in Poland and partners. UNICEF also supports centers for education, development, therapy and psychosocial support for children with disabilities across Poland. The centres provide services including mental health and psychosocial support, individual and group therapy, early diagnosis and referral services. This is for children from Ukraine and other refugee and migrant groups, as well as the local community. As part of this around 10,000 children have been provided services at UNICEF-supported Sun Centers in Krakow. Teachers and other professionals from Ukraine are also being hired by local organizations we are supporting to provide dedicated support services to children with disabilities coming from Ukraine. Agnieszka, a tutor at the Ognisko Marymont center, teaches Oleksii, 10, how to pronounce syllables correctly. He is one of the Ukrainian children currently enrolled at Ognisko Marymont, a Warsaw-based center for children with disabilities supported by UNICEF. It offers extracurricular activities and one-on-one tutoring. UNICEF/UN0738798/Jurkiewicz This hotline provided information and assistance to parents and young people from Ukraine on how to access all levels of education, including tertiary. Almost 1,500 children have been referred to schools by the hotline. Additionally, almost 35,000 people accessed digital resources on education via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Viber and Telegram. 3. Increased access to early childhood education and support servicesFor children of preschool age, UNICEF has partnered with NGOs and local governments to establish 54 Early Childhood Education and Care Centres across Poland. At the centres more than 15,500 refugee children can play, interact with their peers and regain a sense of normalcy. At the centres, different models of care have been developed to meet the unique needs of each child. There is a particular focus on inclusion of children with disabilities or those who need extra support. The centres do not have fees so mothers and caregivers coming from Ukraine with small children have access to safe, trauma-informed care, which has created a sense of community for families involved. We have also supported the stretched Polish early childhood education system to expand to take in children from Ukraine. More than 30,000 children under six have accessed preschool and day care services supported by UNICEF. This expansion Valeriya, or as her mother calls her, Lera, is six years old. She is one of the Ukrainian children who now attend Kindergarten no. 83 in Gdansk. It is one of the kindergartens supported by UNICEF in the city. She came from Kyiv in March 2022 with her mother, grandmother and cousin. When she first joined, she didnt know any children in her group and did not speak Polish, which made it difficult for her to participate. Thanks to joint classes with her Polish peers and fun activities organized by teachers and multicultural assisstants in the kindergarten she has made new friends and communicates with them now without any problems. U NIC EF/ UN 0770 979/ Rek lajt is will benefit the entire system as demand for early childhood education in many Polish towns and cities currently outweighs supply. This has allowed mothers and caregivers to leave their children in a professional learning and care environment while they look for the employment many need to achieve financial independence. Alongside local government and NGO partners, UNICEF has provided training for parents and caregivers who have fled Ukraine with their children. This provides tools and support to help those raising children in the face of adversity and uncertainty. It recognizes the upheaval children have been through and need help to process. The training is focused on helping both adults and children improve their emotional wellbeing. As part of this, the Add Strength and Growing up Together programmes held at day care centers were attended by more than 1,000 mothers and caregivers. It makes me want to smile when I see her being so happy and confident. Kasia teacher at Kindergarten no. 83 in Gdansk Oleksii came to Poland with his parents and his 16-year-old brother. He attends our centre on a daily basis and this has helped him to improve his academic performance and Polish language skills. But maybe even more importantly, we make sure all children feel that they are part of a loving and caring community. Oleksii has such infectious energy that he is always surrounded by friends! Agnieszka a tutor at the Ognisko Marymont center, teaches Oleksii 30,000children under six have accessed Polish preschools and day care services 15,500refugee children benefitting from Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 54Early Childhood Education and Care Centres established with partners Keeping children learning and thrivingKeeping children learning and thriving 20 21 1. There, where and when we are needed One of the crucial ways we protect refugee children is through our work in Blue Dot Support Hubs, a regional partnership with UNHCR. These are front-line services at border crossings and busy transit points. UNICEF and partners ensure that Blue Dot staff are trained to identify, prevent and respond to any child protection risks in emergencies. This includes trafficking, violence against children, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse. Through seven UNICEF-led Blue Dots in Poland, more than 570,000 services have been provided to children and families fleeing war in Ukraine, including mental health and psychosocial support, the use of a child friendly space, child protection referrals and information on healthcare, education, housing and transport. UNICEF/UN0623745/Korta Children who have been forced to flee to Poland need urgent protection from potential harm during their journey and when they settle in a new home. One of the primary focuses of UNICEF is to ensure children whove fled the war in Ukraine are protected from all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. We work with partners to make sure children are provided with quality care and protection services that are in their best interests, and we make sure vulnerable children can access and receive the mental health and psychosocial support they need to survive and thrive. To do this we are: KEEPING CHILDREN PROTECTED 20 Keeping children protected We had no choice. We were very scared. I could not stay in Ukraine with Misha. I had to think about my son and his safety first. My husband could not go with us. He cannot even go to a safer part of the country, because he is afraid of losing his job and not being able to provide for those who depend on him. Ksenia (left) arrived by train into Przemysl with her son Misha, 3 Ksenia is from eastern Ukraine. She was hoping that they would be safer in other parts of the country, and her three-year-old son Mykhailo (Misha) would not have to see bombings, hear sirens and hide in shelters, but the reality turned out to be different. After another escalation of the war, she decided it was not safe for them to stay in Ukraine. Although Ksenia says she feels relieved that they made it to Poland safely, she worries about her parents and Mishas father who are still in Ukraine. UNICEF/UN0727829/Reklajtis 22 23 4. Providing alternative care for the most vulnerableChildren fleeing war alone are among the most vulnerable. To protect and care for unaccompanied and separated children, including those evacuated from childcare institutions in Ukraine, we have partnered with the government, local authorities and NGOs. More than 3,000 unaccompanied and separated children have been identified and supported by UNICEF. Our aim is to make sure these vulnerable children are placed with a temporary guardian or can access alternative care services as and when needed. According to data from the Polish government, more than 30,000 unaccompanied and separated children from Ukraine have been provided with a temporary legal guardian in Poland. UNICEF is supporting the local authorities to hire additional social workers who monitor children with temporary guardians as well as providing them with financial and psychosocial support. UNICEF is also working with the authorities to expand the provision of quality foster care in Poland so all children coming from Ukraine can be properly cared for. This is supported by raising awareness on foster care through local campaigns, supporting Polish and Ukrainian foster families, ensuring access to services and specialized support to children in foster and residential care, as well as recruiting and training new Ukrainian and Polish foster families assistants. Nearly 2,000 children, many with disabilities, have been evacuated from childcare institutions in Ukraine and are currently hosted in temporary facilities in Poland. UNICEF works with the authorities to respond to the urgent needs of these children and their caregivers. This includes medical care, the provision of mental health and psychosocial support and assistance with accommodation and additional caregivers. In addition, were working with local government to provide family type homes to groups of children evacuated from institutions in Ukraine. This means children and caregivers can live in a family environment with better conditions and appropriate support for their urgent needs. UNICEF and partners will continue working in this important area to ensure the care and protection for vulnerable children is based on their best interests and in line with international standards. To this end, we are also working with the Polish Childrens Ombudsman to ensure regular monitoring of the situation. UNICEF/UN0755541/Kanaplev In Ukraine we would take the children and hide in the shelters. They were really scared. Not all of them understood what was happening and why we needed to hide. Now that we are here in Poland the children feel safe. Valentyna guardian of a group of Ukrainian children and director of a UNICEF-supported small group home in Lodz Ukrainian children now live in a small group home supported by UNICEF in Lodz. The group of 14 boys and 4 girls, ranging from 7 to 17 years old, came to Poland with Valentyna and three other caregivers in March 2022 as war broke out. All of the children have different intellectual disabilities. 2. Strengthening the child protection systemUNICEF partners with national and local government across Poland to strengthen the child protection system and services. This ensures we can prevent and respond effectively to the risks refugee children face. More than 15,000 children have received individual child protection services through UNICEF supported interventions at the municipality level, Blue Dots, as well as through other community based social service mechanisms. In partnership with the 12 municipalities hosting around 75% of child refugees, were supporting the substantial scale-up required in child protection service delivery. This includes community-based 3. Enabling a cohesive and collective approach across Poland UNICEF works with central and local government on policy and legal amendments, as well as systems strengthening and capacity building. We co-chair the Child Protection Working Group which includes more than 30 NGOs and UN agencies services for vulnerable children, children with disabilities and families. Were also increasing capacity by employing and training additional social workers to ease demand. This is achieved through awareness-raising campaigns, recruiting additional social workers, and building capability on identifying signs of violence. Almost 3,500 social service professionals have participated in specialized training, peer support and coaching programmes. We are strengthening reporting channels and working with partners to standardize operating procedures and enhance the quality of protection services. as well as central and local government. It focuses on joint decision-making and discussion on how best to respond to the needs of refugee children in Poland and helps ensure that interventions by all organizations involved in child protection across Poland are well coordinated. Keeping children protectedKeeping children protected There is no other place of integration between Polish and Ukrainian communities in Lublin like this one, which offers so many activities for people who came here from Ukraine and are looking for support or simply want to learn the language. I really like to teach children Polish, to see how they are progressing and getting more and more confident. Alina a teacher of Polish at the Spilno Hub in Lublin @U NIC EF/ UN 076 6101 Alina is from Ukraine, and herself a refugee, and she says it is important for her to give back. She is fluent in Polish, and having past experience teaching adults and children, she comes up with creative ways to engage younger students by playing games, drawing, showing pictures or celebrating days that are important in Polish and Ukrainian culture. 24 25 5. Ensuring access to child-sensitive justice 6. Preventing and responding to violence against children We have partnered with the Ministry of Justice to strengthen the national justice system and ensure that all children in Poland, including refugee children from Ukraine, have access to child-sensitive justice. Children interacting with the justice system could be victims or witnesses to a crime. They could also be alleged, accused or recognized as having broken the law. They could need care and protection. Refugee children are particularly vulnerable when they come into contact with the justice system due to language and awareness barriers. Their rights, including their right to protection, must be fulfilled before, during, and after they encounter the justice system. Our cooperation with the Ministry of Justice includes capacity building of justice professionals, promotion of child rights among children and ensuring access to legal aid. The prevention and response to violence against children and gender-based violence (GBV) is a key part of our response in Poland. Since April 2022, we have supported more than 56,000 women and children to access information on protection services and the prevention of violence against women and children. We have also worked in partnership with municipalities to strengthen services for victims of domestic violence and families in crisis. This includes increasing capacity through the employment of 7. Social protection to shield refugees from the effects of poverty UNICEF works with national and local government to help shield vulnerable children and caregivers from the negative effects of poverty and exclusion. Almost 200,000 children have benefitted from the national universal child grant 500+ through our partnership with the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. The grant is administered by the Social Security Institution ZUS. Direct cash transfers and financial assistance offer a dignified way of assisting refugees because they empower people to determine their own needs and how to meet them. We also work with municipalities to provide targeted financial and in-kind assistance, including housing, to the most vulnerable children and caregivers, including those with temporary guardians, children with disabilities
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