International Award for the Lena Grochowska Foundation
14.12.2023
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has awarded the Nansen Refugee Award to the Lena Grochowska Foundation. Lena and Władysław Grochowski, a married couple, have been running a private philanthropy since 2014. After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the Grochowski family provided accommodation to refugees who urgently needed shelter.
The award is named after Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian scientist, polar explorer, diplomat, first High Commissioner for Refugees of the League of Nations and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1922).
Established in 1954 the Nansen Refugee Award was granted to Poland for the first time. Each year, UNHCR honours individuals, groups and organizations for their extraordinary service and outstanding work for people forced to flee their homes. It is a recognition of the efforts of ordinary people who lend a helping hand in difficult times and defend the rights of the weakest. Over the years it has been awarded to 60 people, groups and organizations.
The main objective of the Lena Grochowska Foundation is to provide support and assistance to people of Polish origin returning to Poland and people living with disabilities. The outbreak of the war in Ukraine caused the largest displacement crisis in Europe since World War II. The Grochowski family immediately scaled-up its activities. The couple’s Arche Hotel Group has provided over 500,000 nights of free accommodation to refugees and invested $4.5 million in renovating buildings in several Polish cities to host families from Ukraine.
The award ceremony took place on 13 December 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
A project of the Lena Grochowska Foundation implemented with Polish Aid funds
The Lena Grochowska Foundation implemented the project “Houses for Refugees - Siedlce, Gdańsk” with Polish Aid funds in 2022. It provided shelter, food and essentials for Ukrainian refugees in five locations in Poland: Ożarów Mazowiecki, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Lublin, Łódź and Siedlce. Buildings that had previously been used as dormitories or offices were converted for housing. Shared kitchens, laundry rooms and common rooms were created. The rooms were furnished with the necessary amenities (furniture, household appliances, electronics). With 610 people living there a total of 112,000 nights of free lodging were provided. The Foundation offered food, hygiene products, cosmetics and cleaning products as well.
Refugees participated in free Polish language courses and schoolchildren attended classes to prepare them to study in Polish schools. Those in need received psychological and psychotherapeutic support on an individual and group basis.