April 7, 2022
News
More than 250,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the Czech Republic since the start of the war in Ukraine. Immediately after the Russian invasion began, the Young Caritas team in Prague built a wide network of volunteers to help refugees in the Czech Republic. They babysit children for families from Ukraine, help as their guides and also assist social workers.
1) Babysitting at the Congress Centre in Prague
In just a few weeks, the Young Caritas team from Caritas Czech Republic has recruited and trained more than 40 volunteers to help refugees from Ukraine navigate their new environment.
Upon arrival in the Czech Republic, the refugees registered at the Congress Centre, where the Regional Assistance Centre for Ukraine was established. Registration of refugees took up to several hours in the first days and weeks. Young Caritas volunteers were therefore involved in helping on the spot, babysitting the children and playing with them so that their parents had space to deal with administrative matters. There are also Ukrainian speakers among the volunteers, so in addition to looking after the children, they also helped with interpreting. However, even those who do not speak Ukrainian did not complain about the language barrier. "One boy drew me a portrait after we finished playing. That was very cute," volunteer Eliška told us.
Another volunteer, Agáta, has been to the Congress Centre three times. “There wasn’t any problem, the kids are great. It doesn't matter that you don't understand each other, you pick up something here and there," says Agáta and another volunteer Anička agrees with her and says she spoke to the children in Czech and they spoke to her in Ukrainian. "We understood each other anyway. It was funny how the children combined all the languages they know - Russian with Ukrainian and English. Although I was afraid at the beginning that I didn't know their language at all, it was really fun," Anička says.
2) Assisting at the Asylum and Migration Policy Department of the Ministry of Interior
The Young Caritas team also has Ukrainian and Russian speaking volunteers in its ranks who help at the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy, where they assist the social workers of the Archdiocesan Caritas Prague. Refugees at this location deal with a variety of issues, from primary registration to employment cards to visas for stays longer than 90 days.
The social workers welcome help with, for example, interpreting or organising the arriving people, to whom volunteers explain where to go so that they do not get lost.
3) Guides for Ukrainian families
Volunteers also help on a more personal level as guides for Ukrainian families. They help families to communicate with authorities, schools and doctors, but also show them around their new home, point them to the nearest shop and, if necessary, look after the children. The Young Caritas team connects Ukrainian families who have little or no background in the Czech Republic with volunteers who become their assistants and help them integrate.
For example, volunteer Dana helps as a guide for Ukrainian families. She has been to the Congress Centre twice and has already managed to take care of two families. "I mainly deal with official matters with them and arrange communication with the school or help them find a job," says Dana.
Become a volunteer
Young Caritas volunteers appreciate that the work and effort they put into volunteering is meaningful and actually helps someone. "When you realise that these people are coming from a place where there is war, it hits you. You start thinking in a different way and I'm glad that we can at least help like that," says volunteer Elena.
Young Caritas is actively seeking more and more opportunities every day to involve its volunteers in helping Ukrainian refugees. We believe that our efforts to make the whole situation of leaving home easier for them will pay off and, most importantly, will really help the Ukrainians.
Thank you to all the volunteers!
Would you also like to become a Young Caritas volunteer? Email fhHxX15j4mnCQOQ938Es-Z29g
