Episode 1 - Agnieszka
CADIS International, together with the Polish Camillian Province and the Tzu Chi Buddhist Charity Foundation, has been engaged for almost three years now on Polish soil in assistance to the Ukrainian population fleeing the war that has devastated entire cities and forced millions of civilians to flee.
Ours is an enduring intervention, carried out thanks to the Tzu Chi Foundation as the main funder and thanks to the dedication of dozens of people who work for and with the people housed in Camillian facilities every day.
We have, over time, collected the voices and testimonies of many Ukrainian women who have benefited from our support. We now want, in a series of interviews, to share the invaluable testimony of those behind the scenes who are part of the valuable team that assists guests in various areas. This is also meant to be a way of thanking all those who have been on the front lines since the very first days of the war to welcome and assist the tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the war.
Meet Agnieszka, program coordinator of the Lomianki facility who works closely with Fr. Roman, local superior of the Camillian community in Lomianki. Agnieszka has been engaged in the resilience building project for Ukrainian refugees at the onset of the crisis. She carefully lent her ears and heart to listen to the needs of the guests, comfort or hug them when needed. Professionally and motherly, this is how she tells her journey with Ukrainians in Lomianki.

What are your earliest memories related to the arrival of refugees in Poland?
My earliest memories of the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the exodus of refugees to Poland are related to my volunteering as a co-worker at St. Margaret Parish in Lomianki. At the call of the parish priest, I was in charge of coordinating the search for Polish families who would be willing to take under their roof refugees from Ukraine, who were arriving en masse in Warsaw. Polish volunteers who waited for refugees at train stations or those who went directly to the border called me with information about which family they had taken in and I had to look for a place for them with families in Lomianki. The phones rang from the early morning until late at night. There were hundreds of planes attempting to land in congested runways. I was very moved during these days. This went on for several weeks: looking for places for the refugees. This is how I ended up at the House of the Camillian Fathers in Lomianki.
What the biggest difficulties were, and how they were overcome (or not)?
The greatest difficulties were related to accommodation for people with disabilities, which required special housing accommodation. At that time, I sought contact with Polish foundations dealing with disabled people, and we placed such refugees in houses run by them. Sometimes, it was possible to find a Polish family that had the experience to welcome these people. Another difficulty was the communication between the refugees and the Polish families because of the language gap. I had a lot of phone calls asking me to intervene. For me, it was challenging emotionally and linguistically since I learned Russian a long time ago and it was a starting point to communicate to Ukrainian refugees.
Then we had to face the symptoms of post-traumatic stress as a result of the unexpected change in their life situation. Many of them had never had the experience of leaving their country. I encouraged Polish families to use guides on how to behave toward refugees.

How has the refugees' approach changed over the years?
I think most of them have already decided to settle in Poland if the regulations for their stay allow it. They are aware of the difficult living conditions in Ukraine after the war (the country is devastated with financial problems). Hence, they are trying their best to adapt to the new reality, working hard and learning the Polish language. Some of the refugees, especially those less well-adapted to their new life in Poland, are still desiring to come back to Ukraine. Most of them are having difficulties in learning the Polish language and the Polish system.
What is the current situation of refugees in Poland?
The situation on the Polish-Ukrainian border is stable;the border service did not record much traffic. Legislative plans regarding changes in the regulations i.e. the extension of the deadline for the legal stay of Ukrainians in Poland until March 2026 (according to the EU Directive) will take place in the first quarter of this year. Currently, around 30,000 people stay in the centers of collective accommodation (OZZ), the participation of people with disabilities and the elderly accounts for about 17% of this number. 45% of people are completely exempt from the fee for the stay. The "Together to Independence" project implemented by the Polish Red Cross and the Polish Center for International Aid, which is operating in the area of supporting the rental of apartments by refugees, intends to move funds for the support of social and economic integration. There is a high demand for professional courses and here is the need to find financing.
Currently, most residents of our house have a permanent job, the others - occasional work. Only a small percentage performs work related to their education. This is due to the inability to recognize Ukrainian university diplomas. Also, studying at Polish schools or universities requires a Polish language certificate. People from Ukraine, the more talented, younger and those who have funds for this take this challenge. Others are forced to perform simple works, usually below their qualifications.
In the process of integration with Polish society, children are the best, the most difficult for the elderly and less educated people who are relying on the help of their loved ones who live with them in Poland or those who already know well in the Polish system.
What are the expectations for the coming months?
As long as the war in Ukraine continues, we can consider any scenario. We, as coordinators of the aid program, are carrying out our mission at Lomianki House. In this phase of the program, we are emphasizing the refugees' complete independence through a completely conscious entry into the Polish social, societal, educational system and the labor market.


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What is the feeling with respect to the end of the war?
We don't know when this war will end. But if it does, Ukraine will face its consequences for a long time, both economically and socially. Some people may not have anything to go back to.
Can you tell us an episode or story that particularly touched you?
This work as social caregiver and administrator of the program in the community of Lomianki house requires me, on the one hand, compassion and love for the other person but, on the other hand, great commitment, tenacity and consistency in action. This kind of professional work even subconsciously affects my private life. Human drama but also immense gratitude on the part of refugees is the daily reality of my work.
A particular episode: Antonina, a 58-year-old disabled woman from Mikolayev, came to Poland with her 85-year-old mother. Because of her physical handicap, it was necessary to obtain a Polish certificate of disability to ensure financial support and appropriate medical treatment. I went with her to the clinic for a chest X-ray. The technician asked her to lie down on a special table, but due to her short stature and foot deformity, she was unable to climb on it. I had to lift her up and place her on the table. After strapping her in, the table began to move to an upright position, it was necessary for her to hold onto its edges with her hands, but Antonina was not strong enough to maintain her balance. She began to slide off from the platform. To take the necessary picture, I put on an X-ray wave protector and held her upright. It worked! But honestly I feared that I might have gotten a dose of radiation. Nevertheless I made it.
A touching story: Tetyana, a 30-year-old mother of two children aged 2 and 3, in February 2022, during a journey of several days, fleeing the war to Poland, experienced the hardships of crossing the border, the cold and the uncertainty of their fate. In an unheated bus on the way to the Polish border, she gives leftover milk to her crying children. She first warms the liquid herself with her mouth first before she feeds her child.