Katowice have a new ADRA’s Integration Center for Foreigners
ADRA Poland opened the Integration Center for Foreigners in Katowice, Poland on December 14, 2022. This facility will provide comprehensive, expert support to integrate refugees from Ukraine into Polish society. This is the fifth centre of this type opened by the ADRA with the co-financing of the CARE organisation. Centres in Lublin, Warsaw, Bydgoszcz and Zielona Góra have thrived for several months.
The newly opened facility will primarily provide the opportunity to learn Polish, psychological support, career counselling and assistance in formal matters related to life in Poland, such as assistance in enrolling a child in school, obtaining benefits, and similar. Beneficiaries will also be able to receive parcels with food and hygiene articles.
“Comprehensive support in integration and the inclusion of forced migrants from Ukraine into Polish society is currently one of our main challenges,” emphasised Dr Piotr Nowacki, ADRA Poland director, during the official opening.
“Inclusion and integration is the second stage of assistance, after providing assistance to basic needs for refugees, such as safe shelter, food and basic necessities. This second stage of help is equally important because it greatly impacts one’s sense of dignity. Help in becoming independent, building their lives in Poland so that refugees feel like equal members of Polish society – this is the main goal of our activities,” he added.
Polish language classes will be held twice a week for two hours. They will focus primarily on learning Polish in the form of conversation to enable refugees to communicate in offices, banks, shops and with potential employers. There are also plans to launch weekend courses where people working professionally during the week can participate.
Consultations in career counselling conducted by a qualified specialist will also be held at the Centre. An experienced psychologist will provide psychological help. Each beneficiary will also be able to continue meetings online. ADRA Poland’s experienced psychologists from the helpukraine.giveandgethelp.com portal will also be at the disposal of those in need who are on duty by phone and online chat.
The official opening of the Center was attended by representatives of the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodship, the Silesian Voivodeship Office in Katowice, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, as well as representatives of the Voivodeship and Poviat Labor Offices in Katowice.
The Katowice facility is the fifth Integration Center for Foreigners opened by ADRA Poland due to the co-financing of CARE. Similar centres have already been operating in Lublin, Warsaw, Bydgoszcz and Zielona Góra for several months.
