Ukrainian refugees in Cieszyn

There are up to a 1000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in the Cieszyn area. These are mostly women, children, teenagers and the elderly. The vast majority are lodged in private people’s homes, some are sheltered in temporary group accommodation, like hotels and college dorms.

For many, Cieszyn was a random choice, or an outcome of quick decisions with little time for deliberation. They arrived distraught and disoriented. Only a minority had some friends or family living here, only a small minority have some conversational Polish. Many had never traveled outside Ukraine before. Most left behind their closest family members. Some are minors who came with friends rather than family members. Many come with special medical or educational needs, their own, or of their children. Some continue to be torn between relative security here and the urge to return to Ukraine to contribute to the war effort or to see if they can pick up where they left off.

Virtually all refugees need assistance when it comes to accessing available services, registering with local authorities, registering their children in Polish schools, finding employment or temporary jobs, finding long-term accommodation, etc. For some, the circumstances of their flight and displacement, as well as the perfectly uncertain future for themselves and those they left behind, left them overwhelmed, unable to adequately meet the requirements of their new situation here. It is clear that all refugees need programs, activities, spaces, and above all people who would continue providing emergency assistance, facilitate welcome and gradual integration of the newcomers with the Cieszyn area residents.

The Krytyka Polityczna Clubhouse in Cieszyn hope to respond to these needs by creating a center for voluntary action and developing a series of programs and activities that would serve the newcomers and the Cieszyn residents alike.