YMCA Europe Mission in Poland has been implementing the Polish-Ukrainian integration program in partnership with the Warsaw-based sports club for children, Monsters.
The program, which began a year ago with a pilot project called “Polish-Ukrainian City Camp (Sport & Culture),” has been successfully providing integration after-school and camp programs for Polish and Ukrainian children and their families.
These activities are co-funded by YMCA Europe from the resources collected for the support of refugees.
Recently, Monsters took the program to Lipno, a small city with an interesting history located 160 km away from Warsaw, partnering with a martial arts club called Czarny Orzel (Black Eagle) for the event.
The club turned out to be an ideal partner, as Ukrainian children train there under the same conditions as in the Capital.
The event (29 April – 2 May 2023) included various indoor and outdoor sports activities, an excursion to Torun (historic city on the Vistula river – that’s where Nicolaus Copernicus was born), a performance in the Baj Pomorski theatre, educational and interactive presentations, puppet theatres, learning English, a contest on the advertisement of YMCA and Monsters programs, a campfire with sausages and marshmallows, and a pizza party.
The event had 25 children and 3 instructors, and everyone enjoyed their time at YMCA. Lipno and the Czarny Orzel club proved to be a friendly environment for collaboration, and everyone enjoyed the sports training as well as the time spent outside of the gym. New friendships were made, and everyone was sad to leave.
The Polish-Ukrainian integration program has been a significant success, as it has brought together children from different cultures and backgrounds, allowing them to learn from each other and build lasting friendships. The program has been providing a platform for cultural exchange, and it has been instrumental in creating a harmonious society.
YMCA Europe Mission in Poland continue to work towards the success of the program, and we hope to expand their reach in the future. This program is a testament to the YMCA’s commitment to building a better and more inclusive world, one child at a time.
