With the start of the war in Ukraine, the Robert, Adam Foundation has taken action to support people whose country has been affected by the war.
Our achievements:
- 63 rented flats,
- 382 food parcels issued,
- 21 operations financed,
- 34 events organised,
- 197 refugees supported,
- 256 cases of administrative and legal assistance.
The first action the foundation took was to organise a collection, asking the people of Bialystok to bring food, hygiene items as well as medical supplies. In addition, the R.A Foundation also made purchases of essential items which were donated to hospitals in Ukraine and distributed to refugees.
As soon as Ukrainian citizens had to flee the war-torn country, the R.A. Foundation, thinking of long-term assistance, began renting the first flats with the intention of making them available to refugees free of charge. The number of refugees arriving in Bialystok was growing by the day, so the R.A. Foundation was constantly looking for and renting more flats, which were settled almost immediately. These flats are rented for a period of six months. The Foundation has the idea of extending this period, if necessary. The R.A. Foundation covers all expenses, such as rental costs, running charges and furnishes the flats with the necessary necessities of life.
To assist refugees from Ukraine, the Foundation has rented a total of 55 flats, providing shelter for 197 people. The well-equipped, spacious premises allow for safety and adaptation in the new place. All families who have received housing from the R.A. Foundation are continuously supported by our volunteers. They receive regular help with legal matters, finding jobs, kindergartens for their children or information about medical assistance. To date, we have issued 378 food parcels.
The Foundation’s aim is first and foremost for people from war zones to experience peace and a sense of security. Refugees are given long-term assistance to enable them to adapt in Bialystok and regain a substitute for their lost home.
The R.A. Foundation actively participates in meetings and conferences regarding refugees residing in Białystok. On 21 March 2022, representatives of the Foundation attended a press conference on cooperation between Białystok and the city of Hoboken in eastern New Jersey. Thanks to the initiative of Małgorzata Właszczuk Thomerson (former AZS Białystok volleyball player), it was possible to establish cooperation between the two cities.
Hoboken City Hall, not being indifferent to the situation in Ukraine, organised a collection for refugees arriving in Bialystok. Thanks to the many events in which Hoboken residents participated, an impressive amount of money was raised to cover two months’ rent in the flats rented by the R. A. Foundation. Thanks to the open hearts of the people of Hoboken and the help coming from overseas, refugees arriving in Bialystok are able to regain a substitute for a home. However, the damage caused by the war in Ukraine’s cities means that refugees are constantly arriving and housing needs remain acute.
A conference was held on 22.03.2022 to express thanks to the people of Hoboken and the initiator of this noble initiative.
The community of the American city of Hoboken will contribute financially to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing war. The money will make it possible to provide housing for refugees residing in our city. This is an example of cooperation between the residents of two cities, from Poland and the United States, under the auspices of the local authorities.
Thanks to its ongoing cooperation with the “Chorten” grocery shop chain, the R.A. Foundation provides all refugees with food, products commonly found in the kitchen cupboard and hygiene and medical supplies. Regular purchases are made for refugees staying in rented accommodation, which can be collected from the Foundation’s warehouse. During the festive season, the Foundation places additional orders for parcels that bring joy to the refugees’ homes, and thanks to the deliveries of the employees of the ‘Chorten’ chain, we manage to bring smiles back to the faces of Ukrainian refugee families.
The Foundation cooperates on an ongoing basis with the Social Activity Centre and the Municipal Crisis Management Centre of the City of Białystok, which enables the needs and problems of refugees living in Białystok to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
In addition, the charges of the R.A. Foundation participate in initiatives organised by the City of Białystok, such as a joint Easter breakfast. Thanks to such great initiatives, people fleeing the war could feel at least for a moment at home and spend this special, albeit difficult, time in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.
Thanks to the kindness of big-hearted people, the generous gestures of our donors reach the Foundation from other Polish cities as well as from beyond our country’s borders.
In addition to the regular support provided to our wards, the R.A. Foundation also supports other NGOs with its work. Thanks to this, Ukrainian mothers with children from the oncology ward of the Children’s Clinical Hospital in Bialystok – received essential gifts and toys that were the unfulfilled dreams of children.
On the occasion of Children’s Day, the R.A. Foundation put joy and smiles back on the faces of the youngest children and, thanks to the cooperation with the Fairytale Dreams Foundation, managed to make this day special. The children received parcels of toys, board games and, in addition, they could forget the traumatic experience of fleeing their country at war by spending time with fairytale characters.
A free Polish language course for Ukrainian refugees, organised by the R.A Foundation, began on 25 July. Twenty-five people took part in the course, and all students were provided with dedicated Polish language textbooks for Slavic groups. The course was conducted by experienced pedagogue, academic teacher Ms Bożena Bolesta – Wrona, PhD.
The first day of integration of children from Poland and Ukraine is behind us! To start with, we visited the Siberian Memorial Museum. We participated with the children in a short workshop and then went on a prepared thematic path. The youngest listened with great interest to the guide who showed them around this interesting place. We would like to thank the museum staff for the extraordinary passion they put into this educational meeting. Afterwards, it was time for lunch together. Pizza is undoubtedly a dish that everyone loves, so it should come as no surprise that it disappeared in the blink of an eye.
As part of a project implemented by the R.A. Foundation, we took the children to a trampoline park. It is a good place to let off steam and use up their energy. Children from Poland and Ukraine were able to play together and get to know each other. As you can see from the attached photos, the fun was great.
On the occasion of St. Nicholas’ Day, the “Robert, Adam” Foundation organised a meeting during which our charges, and especially their children, could feel the atmosphere of the coming Christmas. A huge thank you to everyone who helped us organise our St. Nicholas Day. In particular, we would like to thank the entire staff of Hampton by Hilton Białystok headed by Ms Magdalena Szklanko, representatives of the Lowlanders Białystok team, the Chorten Group, the Honorary Consulate of Finland in Białystok, directors, teachers and students of primary schools No. 2 and 15 and the Special School Complex No. 16 in Białystok, as well as the positively twisted and supportive team of the “Fairytale Factory of Hope” Foundation.
On 9 March, a Women’s Day organised by our Foundation took place at Vocational School Complex No. 5 in Białystok. Our charges had the opportunity to take part in make-up lessons organised by students from the Marta Gąska Makeup School, as well as to change their hairstyle thanks to the involvement of ZSZ nr 5 students, or to meet Miss Polonia. Thanks to the cooperation with Miraculum S.A., our ladies received cosmetic surprises.
The Foundation is not forgetting its charges and is once again organising the delivery of food.
On the occasion of Easter, we prepared food parcels for families staying in the Foundation’s rented flats. We hope that the products they contain will help with the Christmas preparations.
