Ever more children who had to flee from the war in Ukraine are seeking safety in Poland. We want to make possible the continuation of their education and development, to ensure their care, and create friendly places for integration with their peers. The Saint Nicholas Foundation, which has been working for three years with Ukrainian children in Ukraine, is now aiming to create in Poland a network of friendly spaces in which children from Ukraine can pass their time, learn, play, develop their interests and also obtain appropriate support.
The Foundation has begun a national programme to set up subsidised ‘Saint Nicholas Havens’ and finance essential costs, so that local organisations and other legal entities can set up classes, organise care, and provide Ukrainian children with essential support.
The ‘Havens’ will provide education, care, and workshops, as well as interest and support groups, financing and distributing essential items including in particular school materials, organised teaching of the Polish language, holiday camps, day trips, and employed Ukrainian-language guides.
The call for applications is open until 4 April.
Grants of: from 5 000 PLN to 50 000 PLN.
Total funds available: 1 000 000 PLN.
The organisations that can apply for the grants in order to become Saint Nick’s Havens can include: libraries, cultural centres, schools and learning centres, kindergartens, local NGOs, voluntary fire brigades, rural women’s associations, parents’ associations, sport clubs, housing or owners’ associations, or other legal entities.
The Saint Nicholas Foundation finances projects regarding Ukrainian children or young refugees in the following areas:
a) Organisation of classes, workshops, support groups for children from Ukraine – organisation of cultural, art, and sport classes, interest groups, caring activities, tutoring, games, play etc.;
b) Polish language courses for children and young people from Ukraine;
c) Organisation of trips and tours for children and young people from Ukraine– for sightseeing sport, and camps;
d) Purchase and distribution of school supplies for children;
e) Psychological assistance for children and young people– organisation of consultations and therapy.
Expenses covered in relation to the donations include:
a) Reimbursement of persons holding lessons with children who are fluent in Ukrainian;
b) Reimbursement of persons teaching Polish to children and youth;
c) Reimbursement of psychologists providing psychological care in fluent Ukrainian;
d) Purchase of essential materials: including materials necessary for the realisation of work, such as books in Ukrainian, paper and plastic goods, sporting accessories etc.;
e) Purchase and distribution of school supplies for children and young persons from Ukraine;
f) Realisation of holiday camps and daytrips for children and youth from Ukraine (including food and accommodation);
g) Equipping of places where meetings will be held: including furniture, essential tools and toys. Up to a maximum of 25% of the requested subsidy.
h) Production of information and promotional materials to reach the recipient group: children and young people from Ukraine;