After two years of activity, the YMCA Europe Mission in Poland is entering a new phase of bringing support to groups of refugees from Ukraine.
The Ukraine crisis is still far from resolved, and Poland is still a country where many victims of the war have found their new home. In such circumstances, all integration activities are more and more important.
In the new phase of YMCA activities in Poland, it is very important to continue and develop the effective integration through everyday activities for children, young people and their families. “We cannot leave our friends – that’s our solidarity” – this opinion is commonly shared by the Polish who have been involved in the activities supported by YMCA Europe.
The development of program work goes together with building the structures of a new YMCA movement in Poland – this is also crucial in the next phase that has just started.
During the last two years, YMCA Europe has effectively served as a national movement in this country. Efficient organizational structures have been built, and the program offer actually meets the needs of local communities.
The idea of transforming the YMCA Europe Mission into the YMCA in Poland as a regular NGO appears as a natural follow-up.
Certainly, over time, the program offer must be adapted to current needs. For example, Ukrainian children who attend Polish schools in Gdynia (the city in the north of Poland, where YMCA Europe is involved) need help in equalizing curricular differences. Now tuition has become a sought-after form of activity. Also, the issue of gaining professional qualifications and getting a better paid job is now much more important for Ukrainian women than it used to be.
In Warsaw, the base of the future YMCA is an after-school program. The activities are run in six locations in the capital. Children aged 7-14 and their families are the target group and now, there are about 250 Polish and Ukrainian beneficiaries.
This integration program is run according to the methodology of the YMCA by a sports club for children MONSTERS Warszawa – a proven partner of YMCA Europe. In addition to regular classes and events, various types of Polish-Ukrainian camps are increasingly popular. The last YMCA Europe Mission camp took place in Zakopane January 2024.
The camping program is a priority and will be developed.
Over a year ago an international group was established by YMCA Europe. The purpose was to prepare the ground for rebuilding YMCA in Poland. They worked on the strategic goals of the future organization and on the ways to achieve them. Also, more and more motivated people are gradually gathering around the idea of restoration the YMCA in Poland.
Now intensive actions are underway to sort out the issue of YMCA branding in Poland (the support of World YMCA is crucial in this process). Also, the development of networks with local and with foreign organizations belongs to vital matters.
Currently, we are preparing to host a delegation of the YMCA and Rotary Club from New Hampshire, USA. We are pleased that the steering group has been established. It consists of representatives of YMCA Europe, YMCA USA and one of the Rotary clubs in Warsaw.
We believe that this event will significantly strengthen the current process and will give a good start to the new phase of the YMCA Europe Mission in Poland. We need this synergy!
