According to 2023 UNHCR data, women and children make up 87% of the Ukrainian refugee community in Poland. Young mothers cannot find employment and are in a dire economic and psychological situation.
Since the outbreak of war in 2022, HumanDoc has been providing comprehensive support to Ukrainian refugee women. From our observations, it seems that the most difficult stage of adaptation is just beginning for them. It is only now dawning on many of these women that they will not be able to return to their homes for a long time to come, and perhaps, this will never happen again. So they start looking for employment, but it is not easy. Especially as they often have to look after children they have no one to leave them with.
Our social workers, who visit collective accommodation centres for refugees, observe that due to the poor economic situation, it is sometimes the case that some women completely break down and fall into alcoholism and others give themselves over to prostitution in order to support themselves and their families.
Therefore, the HumanDoc Foundation, together with Zene za Zene International through Women for Women International Crisis response Fund for Ukraine continue to cooperate and implement their next project: ‘Holistic support for Ukrainian refugee women in Poland with a focus on vocational training and economic empowerment’. The main aim of the project is to equip women with the knowledge and necessary skills through vocational training, and thus – to increase their chances of finding a job and to regain control over their lives.
How do we do this?
– we organise group vocational courses, for example: hairdressing, manicure, computer literacy etc.
– we assist with finding and financing participation in vocational courses available on the market for beneficiaries with individualized needs, for example nurse course, IT, masseur florist, etc.
– we prepare information meetings during which you can get to know the specifics of the Polish labour market and learn about employment and income-generating opportunities
– we help you prepare your CV, analyse your employment contract and advise you on how to start your own business.
– we offer group therapy sessions and individual consultations with a psychologist to help beneficiaries regain psychological well-being, self-confidence, and to improve their skill psycho-emotional, as well as communicational and social skills.
