From Displacement to Dignity: JRS Poland Supports Refugees Through Language, Skills, and Hope

From Displacement to Dignity: JRS Poland Supports Refugees Through Language, Skills, and Hope 

In Poland, JRS supports refugees and asylum seekers through practical, skills-based interventions that help bridge the gap between displacement and employment. As part of the Livelihoods Project, backed by the Linsi Foundation, JRS Poland focuses on language training, personal development, and flexible vocational learning—building the foundations for long-term integration without relying on a phased or multi-tiered framework like the Graduation Approach. 

At the heart of the program is language acquisition, especially Polish-language courses, which serve as a gateway to personal independence and workforce participation. Training is delivered across Warsaw, Nowy Sacz, and Krynica-Zdroj, with content ranging from basic Polish to advanced modules like video editing, job search coaching, and professional strengths assessment. In 2023 alone, around 100 participants engaged in JRS programs—most in group sessions in Warsaw and language instruction in the southern hubs. 

The participant base is diverse: refugees and migrants aged 18 to 65, primarily from Ukraine, many of whom arrived in the past one to three years. While some hold refugee or subsidiary protection, others are still waiting on asylum decisions. Educational backgrounds vary widely—from primary school completion to incomplete university degrees—and most participants now live in Warsaw or nearby towns, often separated from family due to the war or conscription. 

Despite their strong literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, many remain underemployed, trapped in precarious jobs or informal labor due to uncertain legal status, unrecognized qualifications, and limited employer partnerships. Women slightly outnumber men in these programs, often balancing care responsibilities while rebuilding their lives. 

To support integration, JRS Poland partners with groups like Akademia Katolicka w Warszawie–Collegium Bobolanum and Sacre Coeur, who offer volunteer-led lessons and intercultural activities. Other collaborators—like Biuro Turystyczne Bezkresy, DOT Dorota Czerwonka, and Perfect English—deliver informal training in Polish and workplace skills. Yet challenges persist: inconsistent attendance, resource constraints, and limited formal job linkages all restrict long-term employment outcomes. 

Nonetheless, JRS Poland’s emphasis on personalized coaching, psychosocial resilience, and cultural mediation has helped many participants regain confidence, develop soft skills, and take the first steps toward economic self-reliance. With plans to expand Polish classes, offer labor market orientation, and explore new vocational pathways—especially in Nowy Sacz—JRS remains committed to evolving alongside the needs of those it serves. 

A Story of Strength: Olena’s Café of Hope 

Olena, an education specialist from Kherson, Ukraine, fled to Poland with her child as war engulfed her hometown. She remembers the harrowing journey and the moment she made a promise to herself: “If we stay alive, it means I have not yet done what I am supposed to.” 

In Poland, finding work in her field proved difficult due to language barriers and an unfamiliar system. Through JRS Poland’s One Proposal project, she enrolled in Polish classes, received psychotherapy, and joined community-building sessions that helped her heal and rebuild. 

Starting with a job at a local café, Olena soon discovered a new calling. With support from JRS and her family, she launched her own business: SofiLen Café, which she describes as “a café with a petit soul.” Today, she serves students, tourists, and locals—not just coffee, but warmth, hospitality, and hope. 

JRS Poland’s work demonstrates how targeted education and psychosocial support can open doors, even amid legal ambiguity and systemic challenges. By investing in language fluency, confidence-building, and individual guidance, JRS Poland helps forcibly displaced people reclaim their agency and shape their futures—with dignity, one step at a time.

Read more about the Livelihood project here: https://jrseurope.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/LIVELIHOOD-REPORT-2025-2.pdf.