”If needed, the scouts are there”: How Polish civil society volunteers responded to the Ukraine refugee crisis, 2022-2023

The ‘ADAM’ project collects the experiences of Polish volunteers engaged in ‘Ukraine Action’ between Feb. 2022 and Oct. 2023. ‘Ukraine Action’ is the name of the partnership that was formed between UNICEF and the World Organization of the Scout Movement in April 2022. Between April 2022 and June 2023 the UAct partnership registered contact with more than a mio. Ukranian refugees in Poland alone. But prior to the arrival of UNICEF in Poland, Polish scouts and guides had been organising humanitarian aid at railway stations and border crossings, offering food, shelter and information points to support the thousands of refugees arriving on a daily basis. In total, Poland received more than 4 mio. Ukrainian refugees, while another 2 mio. using Poland as a transit country to other destinations.  

What will be presented are the first results from an exploratory study, involving 10 volunteers located in the city of Krakow. The research is ‘grounded’, with a picture of ‘Ukraine Action’ created from the collage of storied shared by informants. The material will be accessed through four themes: Affect, Duty, Action and Movement.

Dr Hanne Tange works as an associate professor in English and Global Studies in the Dept. of Culture & Learning, University of Aalborg. Her research interests include ‘teaching practices’ in international HE, intercultural education, language politics and global citizenship. She is a civil society volunteer and member of the Crisis Support Team, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Europe Region.