“We are human too”
Supporting Roma refugee families in Poland
- Available in:
- English
- Polish
Resilience, strength and charisma – these are only a few words to describe Natalia, a grandmother of six, and a carer to everyone she meets. Not long before the war in Ukraine broke out, Natasha lost her beloved daughter. In grief, and full of uncertainty, she boarded a bus from Lutsk to Warsaw, seeking safety for her grandchildren. A year and a half later, Natasha is one of the driving forces at the Roma Community Centre in Warsaw, run by the Foundation Towards Dialogue, and supported by UNICEF.
“Nobody will understand them the way we do,” says Natalia about supporting other Roma refugees. “Even if one of us cannot write down their own name, it does not mean they are not human. We are all human, we deserve our basic rights to be respected,” she adds, visibly emotional.
From the first months of the war, the situation of Roma refugees has been significantly worse than that of other refugee groups from Ukraine. Roma refugee families face multiple barriers in accessing basic services due to administrative hurdles and lack of papers and legal documents. This snowballs into bigger challenges, such as accessing financial support, healthcare, education, housing, and the job market. Many also tell us they have faced overt discrimination based on prejudice.
“People did not want to pick up Roma families from the border, we had to organize everything ourselves, starting from transport, to food, to first aid and accommodation,” says Rajmund Siwak, integration assistant at the Foundation. “We had to intervene with the city so that they accept Romas at the accommodation centres, and until today we have to intervene with schools refusing enrollment of Roma children, which is a human rights violation,” comments Olena Vaidalovych, senior advisor for legal affairs and advocacy.
“An opportunity to give back”
Rada and Natalia understand each other without words. They know that the support that was given to them was a much-needed lifeline. They now pay it forward.
“If not for this place, nobody would help our people, our Roma people,” repeats Rada, who came to Warsaw with her two daughters. Shortly after fleeing the war, she learned that she has cancer. The staff at the Community centre assisted her with finding the right medical aid. She is now recovering and, together with Natalia, works as part of the mobile team, focusing on community engagement at the accommodation centres in the region.
“Although it is circumstantial, many of the accommodation centres where Roma refugees live are isolated,” says Olena Vaidalovych. “There is often no access to education, labour market, services. This does not support integration.”
The issues faced by the Roma refugee community are complex. In Poland, there is no long-term housing strategy for Roma refugees, and refugees at large, and shelters are all bound to close throughout the next year. Without access to the labor market, and considering the widespread prejudice, many Roma refugee families face possible homelessness while they are kept in a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.
Having faced so many challenges, Roma refugees often lack trust in state institutions. This is why having Natalia, Rada, and other Roma colleagues helps – they are best placed to build trust, understand them and respond to their needs. The opportunity to work for the benefit of other Roma refugees, has been empowering for Natasha and Rada too. They regained a sense of agency, grew their decision-making capacity, and found belonging to the community rewarding.
Looking ahead
Besides the emergency and legal support, a long-term approach to help Roma refugees establish an independent life in Poland is needed.
At the Roma Community Centre in Warsaw, children and adults can attend Polish language classes, a skill necessary to navigate daily life, but also a crucial one to study at a Polish school or to find employment. Other integration initiatives include job activation workshops, educational and recreational activities for children, as well as a whole range of mental health and psychosocial support.
The Centre also hosts open events and picnics, inviting a wider community, refugees, and Polish neighbors. These events not only celebrate the rich Roma culture, featuring vibrant music, dance, and delicious traditional food, but also serve as a platform to raise awareness about the Roma community’s presence, challenges, and diversity. By showcasing their heritage, the Centre aims to foster understanding and acceptance among different communities. "Everyone can find support at the Centre. It needs to stay open; it is a safe space," says Rajmund about the future of their work. Inclusion and respect are at the heart of the Centre's mission, creating a welcoming environment where everyone can come together to learn, share, and support one another.
“My dream is for no weapons to fly over our heads. And for our children to be healthy, fed, and smiling,” says Natalia when asked about her plans for the future. “Nothing else to dream of,” adds Rada, her voice filled with conviction. “Just peace everywhere.”
This work to support refugee children and families from Ukraine in Poland has been made possible thanks to generous contributions from public and private donors from around the world, including the people of the Australia through the Australian National Committee for UNICEF.
