Learning how to effectively help people who have fled the war in Ukraine is essential for maintaining good relations between Poles and Ukrainians. On November 18, 2024, SWPS University hosted the second of three online meetings focused on Polish-Ukrainian cooperation. The webinar, led by Dr. Maria Baran from our Faculty of Psychology in Warsaw and Professor Halina Grzymała-Moszczyńska from Ignatianum University in Cracow, discussed various methods of supporting Ukrainian refugees. Watch the recording to learn more.
How to support Ukrainians affected by the war?
The second meeting focused on effective methods of supporting those who have fled the war in Ukraine to Poland. Dr. Maria Baran and Professor Halina Grzymała-Moszczyńska assessed the relief efforts of Polish citizens after the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022. They examined what was successful and what was not in the first days of the war. This analysis helped to identify the fundamental mistakes made when providing aid—not to criticize, but to draw constructive conclusions, find effective solutions and implement best practices.
The hosts of the webinar, who specialize in migration and acculturation psychology, provided insights into their research. They emphasized the crucial role of stability and social support for refugees facing displacement and uncertainty.
They also discussed the following topics:
- Common misconceptions about the needs of refugees
- The importance of communicating with those receiving support to ensure it meeds their needs
- The reality of the integration process
- The tendency to focus too much on refugee trauma
The aim of the webinar was to equip participants with the tools to provide thoughtful and effective support to Ukrainian refugees.
The meeting was held as part of the project "ER–UA. Strengthening cooperation with Ukrainian universities within the framework of the European Universities Initiative" funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.
Watch the webinar
The recording is available with English and Ukrainian subtitles.
Hosts of the webinar
Professor
Halina Grzymała-Moszczyńska
Is a professor of psychology and the chair of the Department of Psychology of Religion and Spirituality at Ignatianum University in Cracow. She specializes in cultural psychology with a focus on the psychology of migration. Her research examines the acculturation experiences of Poles living abroad and foreigners coming to Poland. She also studies the challenges of cultural adaptation faced by children from Polish families returning from emigration. In collaboration with her research team, she recently worked on the project "Superhero in a Skirt: Psychological Resilience of Ukrainian Refugee Women in Poland."
Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
Maria Baran
Is a cross-cultural psychologist specializing in the psychology of migration and acculturation, in particular psychological resilience of migrants and intercultural competence. In addition to her academic role, she offers consultations and short-term psychological support to migrants in crisis, and conducts intercultural competence training. She co-developed the recommendations for foundations which provide support for Ukrainian refugees living in Poland. These recommendations were published as Superbohater w spódnicy. Odporność psychiczna Ukrainek uciekających przed wojną w Ukrainie do Polski - raport z badań i rekomendacje dla trzeciego sektora ["Superhero in a Skirt: Psychological Resilience of Ukrainian Refugee Women in Poland – Research Report and Recommendations for the Third Sector"]. She also contributed to another project – Gościnna Polska 2022+. Jak mądrze wesprzeć Polskę i Polaków w pomocy osobom uciekającym przed wojną w Ukrainie? ["Welcoming Poland 2022+. How to Wisely Support Poland and Poles in their Efforts to Help People Fleeing the War in Ukraine?"] – which provided recommendations for the integration policy concerned with the migration triggered by Russia's attack on Ukraine.
Explore other webinars in the series
- First webinar: "Cultural Differences between Poland and Ukraine"
- The third webinar, scheduled for December 2024, will address the challenges faced by Ukrainian children who have experienced trauma. Our experts will shed light on these issues from a cultural perspective.
Organizers
Studying the resilience of Ukrainian women fleeing war
The webinars are part of a research project that resulted in the publication of the report Superbohater w spódnicy. Odporność psychiczna Ukrainek uciekających przed wojną w Ukrainie do Polski - raport z badań i rekomendacje dla trzeciego sektora [Superhero in a Skirt: Psychological Resilience of Ukrainian Refugee Women in Poland – Research Report and Recommendations for the Third Sector]. The report, available only in Polish, can be accessed on the report’s website
The study included in-depth interviews with 33 women who fled to Poland after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and were still living in Poland during the research period, between December 2022 to March 2023.