When the war in Ukraine began, Kraków-based community organizer Karol Wilczyński of the solidarity NGO Grupa Granica knew exactly who to call upon. A year earlier, Wilczyński had worked with Poland’s biggest actors such as Maja Ostaszewska, Marek Kalita, Mateusz Janicki, and Aleksandra Popławska in the Bialowezia region, assisting refugees. They were part of the same team that visited detainees and prevented migrants from being pushed back to Belarus.
By January 2022, Wilczyński felt that most of their work was complete as migrant traffic through Belarus had slowed. However, when war broke out in Europe, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were on their way to Kraków. Wilczyński quickly reached out to the film stars he had worked with previously, and within six hours, the 19th-century Słowacki theatre was transformed into a shelter for 120 people.
Lessons learned from previous experiences helped Wilczyński and other activists respond quickly to the crisis. The Ocalenie Foundation, led by Kalina Czwarnóg, had implemented communication strategies and was better prepared to handle the influx of people seeking refuge. The foundation provided mental health support for new recruits and volunteers, anticipating the emotional toll of the crisis.
The scale of the crisis forced local organizations like Homo Faber in Lublin to grow rapidly. Director Anna Dąbrowska expanded her team and engaged with politicians and NGOs to ensure that Lublin could accommodate the influx of refugees. Despite challenges, Dąbrowska emphasized the importance of using local knowledge to address the crisis effectively.
The response to the crisis highlighted the contrast in how different groups of refugees were treated in Poland. While Ukrainians received widespread support, refugees from the Middle East and Africa faced hostility. Despite this, activists and organizations continued their work, drawing on lessons learned from previous humanitarian disasters.
The public response to the crisis varied, with some expressing support for humanitarian efforts while others criticized volunteers. Wilczyński and others faced challenges and risks in their work, with some feeling targeted for their efforts. Despite these challenges, they remained committed to providing assistance to those in need.
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