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The Need
The ASPIRE Education Hub is an initiative by ASPIRE members to support Ukrainian teenagers displaced by war in their homeland.
Making use of available office space we aim to provide a network of safe, welcoming, well-equipped social spaces for teenagers to come together.
Hubs provide a range of classroom and online activities aimed at helping to normalise life for young people whose lives have been disrupted.
When the project is fully up and running we aim to serve a minimum 200 children at any one time, but it could be many more.
To do this we need Your help.
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On 23 May 2022, over 100 mums and children gathered for an impromptu information meeting about the initiative.
As a result more than 70 children signed up to participate in the Hub.
This represents the tip of the iceberg.
As many as 50,000 Ukrainian teenagers are anticipated to be currently resident in Krakow.
On 23 May, over 100 mums and children gathered for an impromptu information meeting about the initiative.
As a result, more than 70 children signed up to participate in the Hub.
This represents the tip of the iceberg.
As many as 25,000 Ukrainian teenagers are anticipated to be currently resident in Kraków.
How it works?
Two of Kraków’s most respected institutions have joined forces to bring the Education Hub to life.
ASPIRE – the representative body of Kraków’s IT and Business Services Companies and a key driver in Kraków’s recent emergence as a business hub has teamed up with Akademia Ignatianum – the university of the Jesuit order in Kraków, whose roots stretch back to the 16th century.
FACILITIES, FOOD & FINANCE
ASPIRE and our members are responsible for contributing three vital ingredients to make the Education Hub work:
- Facilities – Safe and well-equipped spaces, desks, chairs, computers, good wifi, whiteboards, flip charts, screens, copying facilities, notepads, etc.
- Food – snacks and lunches for students and volunteers.
- Financial contribution – we help pay for teachers.
EDUCATION & ADMINISTRATION
The Ignatianum Foundation, the charitable arm of Akademia Ignatianum, has overall responsibility for delivery of education and administration, including:
- Programme – design and delivery of the programme of activities.
- Teachers – recruitment and management of teachers and volunteers.
- Students – recruitment, enrolment, well-being and enjoyment of students.
The First Hub
The First Hub
On 30 May 2022, the first Education Hub opened its doors at Aon.
The Aon Education Hub ran Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the Summer of 2022.
The average age of teenagers attending the hub was 14-15 years old, which focused on much needed in-class integration activities.
These have included:
- Meetings with Japanese, American and Polish students
- Polish, English, French and Spanish lessons
- Yoga and other well-being sessions
- Theatre, Arts and Crafts
- Games, such as outdoor chess and volleyball
- Other activities facilitated by Aon employees
Lessons Learned
There is no blueprint for what we are looking to do.
Our first aim has been to start and to test and adapt as we go along.
Our first aim has been to start and to test and adapt as we go along.
One of our initial concepts was to provide a conducive environment for students to access online lessons provided through the Ukrainian Ministry of Education. Having launched in Summer we have leaned towards in-class activities with a focus on interaction and fun.
Although we will re-evaluate at the beginning of the next academic year, the current arrangement seems more in keeping with the needs of students impacted by the emotional trauma of being displaced.
Our doors are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, students arrive during the morning at different times and may leave at different times in the afternoon. Mostly the day wraps at around 3 p.m.
Food is a big incentive. Most students arrive before the morning snack with everyone present for lunch. This suggests that food is an important part of what the Hubs offer.
The emotional and physical impact of war on these young people cannot be overestimated and a key learning is the huge value in providing a welcoming space, an opportunity to socialise and sense of being valued.
Initially we assume educational sprints of 4-8 weeks helping students to acclimatise and assimilate, before welcoming a new intake. We are reviewing this situation as students are reluctant to leave, notwithstanding many more want to join.
Hubs Network
After-school club for teenage refugees
Mon-Fri, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
After-school club for teenagers
Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Hub for teenage refugees
Open Mon-Fri, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m
Morning hub for 50 + women refugees
Hub for women refugees
Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Coming Soon
Hub for teenage refugees
August 2022 – September 2023
Full-time Hub for teenage refugees
July 2023 – August 2023
Summer School for teenage refugees
September 2022 – July 2023
After-school club for teenage refugees
August 2022 – Feb 2023
Wellbeing clinics for women refugees
September 2022 – December 2022
After-school club for teenage refugees
August 2022
Summer School for teenage refugees
July 2022 – August 2022
Summer School for teenage refugees
(Location 1)
July 2022 – August 2022
Summer School for teenage refugees
(Location 2)
May 2022 – October 2022
Summer – Day School for teenage refugees
How You can help
How You can help
Phase 1
Proof of Concept
In the first phase of the project we have opted for the simplest model.
The Ignatianum Foundation and ASPIRE are covering people and programme costs. Host companies are providing space, food, wifi and tech.
Phase 2
Scaling and sustaining the initiative
As we now look to scale the initiative we are adapting this approach to include the following:
- Mixing and matching company contributions – e.g. one company may have space to offer, whereas another may be able to provide computers or volunteers.
- Donations – to help resource a hub as needed, e.g., food, teachers, tech.
- Funding – with the initiative up and running, we are looking at long-term funding opportunities through organisations such as UNICEF, the European Union and USAID.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR HELP WITH ANY OF THE BELOW:
Space
Desks, chairs, good wifi, whiteboards, flip charts, screens, copying facilities, notepads, etc.
Food
We provide students and volunteers with much-needed snacks and lunches.
Tech
Computers, tablets, headphones.
Activities
Ignatianum has the programme covered but we are open to input from volunteers.
Donations
Company or private donations are vital to help resource hubs as needed.
Donations
Donations will are vital to help resource hubs as needed.
We have two ways individuals and companies
can support the initiative financially.
For PLN (Polish złoty) payments:
ASPIRE Education Hub
PL 63 1090 2590 0000 0001 4312 3624
Fundacja Ignatianum
PL 93 1600 1462 1082 1723 8000 0009
Please note donations can also be made in either Euro or USD.
Donations
Here are examples of what your donation can buy:
25 PLN
pays for lunch, snacks and drinks for one student for a day.
500 PLN
pays for lunch, snacks and drinks for one student for one month.
6,500 PLN
pays for a teacher for a hub for one month.
12,500 PLN
pays for lunch, snacks and drinks for a class of 25 students for one month.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss making a donation.
ASPIRE’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals is aligned to our approach to building a progressive and healthy society.
Through the Education Hub we support inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Contact Us
ASPIRE – Association of IT
and Business Process Services
Rynek Główny 39/8, 31-013 Kraków