Opening horizons, together

Four years ago, Artem, now fifteen, thought he would spend only a few weeks in Poland.

When the war escalated in Ukraine in 2022, he left Kyiv with his family. After a brief stay in Wrocław, they settled in Gdańsk, where Artem started school almost immediately. 

"I thought we'd stay for one or two weeks," he says. "Then everything changed."

Today, Artem is studying at a technical secondary school. He has recently started his first summer job and is beginning to think more about his future.

Poland has become part of his life, but, as he says, "it still doesn't completely feel like home." Yet, like any other teenager, he is making friends, taking his first steps into adulthood and beginning to shape the future he wants for himself.

Understanding the unique experiences young people have as they navigate the transition to adulthood sparked the development of the Open Horizons initiative. Developed by the FOSA Foundation with support from the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland, the initiative helps young people develop life skills and social connections and stay engaged in education and community life. Working closely with schools, youth clubs and in community spaces across Gdańsk, FOSA psychologists tailor workshops to the needs of each class, combining psychoeducation with interactive activities.

"Every class is different," says Agnieszka, a psychologist at the FOSA Foundation. "We first speak with schools to understand the group's needs and tailor the workshops accordingly. For many young people, the workshops sometimes become also a first step towards seeking support, with some later choosing to continue the conversation through individual consultations. Sometimes to simply understand better what they are going through.”

For Artem, it all began differently.

“Last year I was sitting outside the shopping centre with a friend when streetworkers handed me a leaflet about Blue Sneakers," he remembers. "I put it in my pocket. Later my friend found it and said, 'Let's go and see what it is.'"

He has been coming back ever since.

"You don't have to come here," he says. "But everyone comes because it's simply cool. There are always interesting things happening. You can play pool, join some activities or just spend time talking. I feel everyone respects each other here. And when people respect one another, there aren't conflicts – it is kind of special."

Blue Sneakers is an open youth club model run by the FOSA Foundation, offering young people an accessible space to spend time with peers, take part in activities and access psychosocial support when needed.

"Nothing here is forced," says Tatiana, who has been working at the youth club since it first opened. "Young people don't come because someone tells them they need support. They come because they're curious, because a friend invited them or because they simply want somewhere to spend time. If they choose, they can also take part in additional Open Horizons activities organised alongside the youth club's regular programme.”

 "Sometimes we play psychological games. Sometimes we do creative activities. One exercise asks young people to draw an image inspired by a favourite song. Later, those drawings become conversations about emotions, memories and experiences,” she adds.

Group sessions are complemented by integration activities that allow young people to discover new places, build friendships and experience everyday moments together.

Trust develops gradually and many young people eventually choose one youth worker they feel most comfortable talking to. "You can't rush that relationship," Tatiana says. "For many adolescents, talking openly about what they're going through doesn't come easily. Trust takes time to build."

Supporting youth also means helping them see opportunities for the future.

"We encourage them to believe in themselves," Tatiana says. "Education opens opportunities, but confidence and creating supportive bonds do too. Sometimes all a young person needs is someone who notices their strengths."

This summer, Artem received his first salary from his seasonal job. "I was really proud," he says with a smile. "I sent a photo of my first pay to my mum."

Four years ago, he thought he would spend only a few weeks in Poland. Today, he is thinking about his educational path, his future profession and everything that lies ahead. His journey, like that of thousands of young Ukrainians now living in Poland, is still unfolding. Every story is different. But new horizons often begin with something simple: a place to belong, people who take the time to listen and the encouragement to keep moving forward.

 

The Opening Horizons programme and other important work to support children and young people from Ukraine seeking refuge in Poland has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Government of the United States