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Description
The average time taken to issue a decision in cases concerning international protection in Poland is 14.5 months. In Poland, international protection is granted to only a small portion of applicants. For this reason, many people re-apply. These people include a large group redirected to Poland from other EU countries under the Dublin regulation. As a result, from the moment the first application is filed - in Poland or a different EU country - until the final decision is obtained, foreigners'' lives may be put on hold for as long as a few years. During this time, there is very little pre-integration support, and these people often have to work illegally due to not having a work permit. In addition, centres for foreigners are located in remote places. The project is intended for foreigners who are waiting to be granted refugee status in Poland, and reside in the Dębak Foreigners Centre in Podkowa Leśna or secure facilities. Under the project, support will be provided in the form of educational activities for children, excursions, integration events for foreigners, and activities for learning about Polish culture. At the same time, foreigners will receive support in organising daily affairs and meeting their day-to-day needs such as doctors'' appointments, their material situation, access to a psychologist, school, and much more. Our activities will also involve monitoring the conditions in the centres and situations of persons placed in secure facilities. Where necessary, violations of rights of refugees will be publicised. Relations with groups providing support for refugees in Germany will be developed. Up to 100 foreigners will receive direct support under the project.
Summary of project results
In Poland in 2021, 7.7 thousand people applied for international protection (1.2 thousand the year before). Unfortunately, the asylum procedure takes a long time, 14.5 months on average. Moreover, only a small proportion of applicants receive some form of protection, so many people reapply. From the initial application to the final decision, male and female foreigners live in limbo for up to several years, many of them living for long periods in centres, far from major urban centres. The integration support they have access to during this time is very limited, and sometimes only targeted at a specific group of refugees and female refugees. The situation is most difficult in the so-called closed guarded centres, where detainees there have minimal access to material, medical and legal assistance.
The project was aimed at people awaiting refugee status in Poland residing in the open Centre for Foreigners in Dębak. Children and young people from Dębak took part in various integration activities, including five cycles of several days of animation activities, a trip to an amusement park, a week-long summer camp, as well as learning the Polish language and receiving support in their studies. Adults got help with official formalities, finding accommodation, learning the language, etc.82 people took part in the activities in Dębak, about two-thirds of them children and young people, mainly from Chechnya, less frequently from Belarus, Armenia, but also from Afghanistan or Iraq.
Without a doubt, thanks to the project, children, young people and adults from the centre in Dębak received not only language support or the opportunity to spend time in an interesting way, but also emotional support and the possibility to establish and deepen relationships. In addition, the Project Promoter has developed a method of cooperation with the administration of the centre and the Border Guard, which opens up new possibilities for the future.