Empowering Children Foundation and UNICEF are working together to support children from Ukraine in Poland

The Children’s Power project is a new initiative launched in January 2025 by Empowering Children Foundation in collaboration with UNICEF’s Refugee Response Office in Poland. The goal is to protect Ukrainian children and youth in Poland from online violence, support the 116 111 helpline in Ukrainian, and provide Child Protection Standards training for regions and facilities hosting children evacuated from institutional care facilities in Ukraine. Through this project, children, adolescents, and their caregivers will learn to recognize and respond to online threats such as grooming, hate speech, and sextortion, empowering them to handle difficult situations.

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022, approximately 2,500 children have been evacuated from institutional care facilities, with Poland becoming one of their main destinations. While some have returned to Ukraine, about 900 children remain in Poland. Many of them come from alternative care institutions or facilities for children with disabilities and require specialized care due to trauma and special needs. The war and displacement have made their situation even more challenging. children and adolescents from Ukraine rely heavily on social media to stay connected with their peers and loved ones. Unfortunately, this also makes them particularly vulnerable to online violence and exploitation.

The project provides workshops for children, adolescents, and their caregivers to help them recognize and respond to online threats. Children from Ukraine, due to their increased reliance on the internet for education and social connections, face a higher risk of online abuse. The workshops aim to give them the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves. "We want children to feel empowered and equipped to protect themselves from online violence. We also want caregivers to know how to prevent it, when to intervene, and where to report potential harm." says Julia Durska, Child Protection Specialist from UNICEF’s Refugee Response Office in Poland.

The 116 111 helpline will continue offering free psychological support in Ukrainian. Many children from Ukraine struggle with trauma, fear for their loved ones, isolation, and uncertainty. According to FDDS data, these emotions lead to social difficulties and daily challenges. The helpline provides confidential support from 14:00 to 24:00 every day.

Lastly, the project strengthens child protection professionals in regions and facilities hosting children. Under new Polish child protection laws (effective February 15, 2024), all organizations serving children under 18 must implement child protection policies. "Implementing Child Protection Standards can be challenging, especially when it comes to defining safe relationships and reporting abuse. Our support in verifying these policies is a great help to many institutions," says Magdalena Hojnor from FDDS. The project offers training and consultations for staff working with children, including those in County Family Support Centers (PCPRs). Topics covered include recognizing signs of child abuse, procedures for reporting suspected abuse, and guidelines for safe interactions between children and staff. The training program will be tailored to the specific needs of each location.

The Children’s Power project is implemented by the Empowering Children Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)  and with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea.