Fourth regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in Mazovia

The regional platform is set up in the framework of the Share SIRA project, our European project co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which aims at strengthening and expanding the social orientation and overall integration of newcomers in rural territories in Europe. Besides the Province of Mazovia, regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platforms have also been set up in 9 other rural regions in Europe. Click here to find out more about these regions!

On 8 November 2022, IOM Poland, with the support of the SHARE Network, organized the fourth roundtable of the regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in the Province of Mazovia, Poland. 

The online event gathered 36 stakeholders, among which were experienced NGOs, mainstream service providers (including schools), local authorities and academics. Against the background of the war in Ukraine, the meeting focused on education since the new semester had just started. Participants had the chance to discuss the enrollment of Ukrainian kids in schools, the challenges and the solutions. They agreed on the need for systemic solutions to the current challenges, while some of the municipalities provided information on education and preparatory classes for children who do not speak Polish yet.   

During the meeting, representatives of the Board of Education in Warsaw, the Education Development Center, the Piaseczno Municipality and Primary Schools made presentations, while representatives of schools and non-governmental organizations exchanged opinions and experiences, leading to the identification of the following challenges and needs:  

• Since the beginning of the war, there were 2 different periods in terms of education: the winter semester (second semester) and the fall semester (first) in the new school year. During the winter semester, the education system faced several challenges in meeting the needs of the children who fled Ukraine. During the new semester, a significant number of children were transferred from preparatory classes to regular classes, while more places became available, because some children left or changed schools or even stopped attending school. The holiday period was crucial for the organisation of education;  

• There is an absence of information and/or a relevant system for transferring children from one school to another. Therefore, the schools must search themselves the pupils not having returned after the holiday period, which is extremely difficult. Additionally, reaching children having “disappeared” from school and finding a way to re-engage them in the education system is extremely challenging ; 

• The organization of special education is a challenge, since there is a lack of systemic solutions and of sufficient places in schools, while there are long waiting lists and reserve lists both for schools (preparatory wards for children with disabilities) and for specialist therapy;  

• The role of libraries and community centers in local communities is highly important;  

• Systemic support is needed to establish bilingual Polish-Ukrainian schools, so that children can also continue their education in Ukrainian. As far as the local government is concerned, the establishment of such schools is impossible without systemic and legislative changes;  

• It is necessary to facilitate the process of employing teachers from Ukraine. However, there are challenges related to the high cost of translating diplomas.  

The 4th regional roundtable was the last in the series of regional roundtables of the Share SIRA. Various stakeholders from Mazovia have met over the past months to discuss the integration of newly arrived refugees and migrants. Fruitful discussions and interesting debates on integration needs, access to services and challenges faced by newcomers during the integration process took place, while participants had the opportunity to better coordinate, share their experiences and exchange good practices. Some of them will have the occasion to meet again at the National Roundtable that will take place in December 2022. Through the multi-stakeholder platforms, the Share Network has also been able to provide trainings tailored to the needs of local actors and to collect data on the region and integration frameworks in the form of Factfiles.  

Through transnational activities and events, the project has also encouraged the exchange of practices and promoted inspiring grassroot practices at European level, thus making the link between practice and policy.  

Share Network would like to thank all stakeholders who participated in the roundtables for their commitment and important contribution. 

More information about the activities in Mazovia can be found on the regional webpage.