Soon after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Tag sent teams of professionals – mostly social workers – to volunteer at the Polish border with Ukraine. Streams of migrants, almost all women and children, were crossing the border to safety, and were in desperate need of assistance. We also sent experts who ran workshops for other aid workers, as well as training to Polish government agencies, to equip them with the skills to deal with the complex psychosocial needs of the refugees.
Based on this initial work, we identified a strong need for safe accommodation for vulnerable women and children who had fled Ukraine. To this effect, Tag partnership with an Israeli NGO called Topaz to established homes for refugees in the city of Rzeszow in Poland, called Project SheltHer.
The shelters there offered women and children who arrive in Poland a safe and wholesome place to live while they decided their next steps. Many refugees had experienced and/or witnessed considerable horrors and needed a great deal of immediate support and assistance with emotional rehabilitation. We established two shelters in the Polish city of Rzeszow to provide:
- Short to medium term accommodation for women and children
- Advice and assistance in accessing government support and finding employment
- Social activities and emotional support
The homes were running until they were no longer required. However, our team continued to assist former residents of our shelters with guidance and support. Also, our volunteers have continued to be active in public education about the situation in Ukraine and the needs of the refugees, such as holding a photo exhibition.
