The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (PSGA) was awarded the 2022 Civil Society Prize. This article illustrates the ongoing support the PSGA provides to the people of Ukraine.

Service from the very beginning

Four years on from the start of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, solidarity is no longer a sudden call to action, but a long-term commitment. For the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, helping the people of Ukraine has been a natural part of service from the very beginning, rooted in the idea of fraternity, responsibility and community action.

The PSGA is the largest youth organisation in Poland, with over 115 000 members, and has been educating young people through action, adventure and service for over 100 years. In the face of a humanitarian crisis, this mission has gained particular significance. Scouts and guides have worked at the border, organised support hubs in train stations, coordinated humanitarian aid transport and managed temporary accommodation. Today, as hundreds of thousands of refugees – including children and young people – are living in Polish communities, scouting activities have moved from intervention to long-term integration and educational work. 

Support programmes and cooperation with WAGGGS

Cooperation with the international scouting movement, in particular with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), has played a key role in these efforts. Thanks to the resources provided by WAGGGS, two editions of the ‘Teams for Ukraine’ programme have been carried out, awarding dozens of mini-grants to local scouting and guiding communities. These grants made it possible to purchase equipment, help Ukrainian children attend camps, carry out educational and integration projects and work towards building peace and intercultural skills.

The current follow-up to this is the ‘Helping Ukraine with WAGGGS’ campaign, in which WAGGGS has provided the PSGA with EUR 11 300 to support refugees living in local communities. This new action focuses on more personalised help: the scouting community determines the specific needs of children and families and then plans actions that will actually improve their circumstances, from buying appliances and furniture to psychological support and language classes. Units can apply for grants of up to PLN 4000, which enables them to carry out projects tailored to the local context. 

Local initiatives: solidarity in practice

‘Think global, act local’ – this slogan has guided scouting from the beginning. Hundreds of local initiatives have been set up across Poland, often created from the grassroots by scouting teams and volunteers. In Olsztyn, scouts bought a projector for the ‘Two Wings UA’ Foundation, which supports refugees through language courses and activities for children. In Nowy Sącz, a five-person family of scouts from Ukraine received support. The boys could take part in camps thanks to the purchased equipment and one of them received a bike which made it easier for him to attend daily sports training.

As part of the ‘What a ride’ project, volunteers repaired used bicycles and gave them to refugees, along with helmets and reflective items, which gave them much more mobility and safety. In Krakow, volunteers renovated the terrace at the Spilno Hub support centre, creating a space for educational, integration and therapeutic activities. Other projects focused on empowering young people – financial support for driving lessons or boating licenses and purchase of educational equipment such as laptops that opened doors for further education and work.

There was also no shortage of actions aimed at whole families and people in particularly difficult situations. Scouts and guides supported families with children with disabilities by funding rehabilitation, public transport and winter clothing. Psychological support projects, carried out in cooperation with specialists, included play therapy for children affected by war trauma and consultations for carers. Joint educational trips and cultural initiatives helped refugees stay connected to their heritage and build new relationships in their host communities.

A particular example of integration is the establishment of the 33d Konstancin Scouting Team ‘Borysfen’, led by instructors from Ukraine. It has become a space for development and education for young Ukrainians and at the same time a bridge between the Polish and Ukrainian scouting movements.

Why solidarity still matters

Continuing to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine is as important today as it was in the days immediately following the outbreak of the war. Although four years have passed since the start of the Russian invasion, it continues to deeply affect the lives of millions of people, both those who have stayed in Ukraine and those who have sought refuge in other countries. Solidarity is not just a one-off gesture, but a long-term process of supporting, accompanying and building a community based on empathy, responsibility and respect for the dignity of every person.

By supporting the people of Ukraine, we show that values such as freedom, human rights and democracy are not empty slogans, but the foundation of the European community. Continued solidarity helps refugees rebuild their sense of security, facilitates integration and gives hope and real tools to live independently, while also strengthening civil society across Europe. It is also an expression of opposition to violence and injustice and a commitment to stand with those who need it most.

Information about ongoing activities, support opportunities and educational materials is continuously published on the website zhp.pl/zhp-dla-ukrainy. The website is the PSGA’s main information platform for news on support projects, reports from ongoing initiatives, materials for volunteers and people and institutions wanting to engage with Ukrainians. 

Chair, Małgorzata Godyń

PSGA press office