Polish aid

Ukraine is home to more than 1.5 million internally displaced persons. They include around 30,000 Tatars who left Crimea after the peninsula had been annexed by Russia. A small group of these (120 people) has found shelter among the 70,000 inhabitants of Drohobych in western Ukraine. There, with the support of the Greek Catholic Caritas organization, they have received necessary help, found lodgings and jobs. While integrating with the local community, they dream about going back to Crimea again and try to preserve their roots. For this reason, Drohobych saw the opening of the Crimean Tatars Culture Centre, a place of meetings, prayers, activation and social integration for the displaced.

“The centre will benefit both the Tatars and the town itself. Besides teaching the Tatar language and other courses for Tatars it will host events promoting Tatar culture among Drohobych inhabitants,” the deputy head of the Greek Catholic Caritas in the Sambor-Drohobych diocese, Artur Deska, who was also in charge of care for the new migrants, summarized the centre’s role. Mr. Deska accompanied each and every Tatar family that ended up in Drohobych, supporting them while they settled down in the new location. The premises for the Centre were selected by the municipal board, while the costs of renovation and furnishing were covered from Polish Aid funds. To complete the Drohobych project, the Polish MFA donated EUR 11,000. The involvement of Poland resulted not only in renovating the building, but also purchasing furniture and equipment to stage activities and organize cultural events and delivering an official opening ceremony.

IMPLEMENTING ENTITY Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv

PLACE OF IMPLEMENTATION Ukraine, Drohobych

PROJECT VALUE PLN 46,634