Community foundations and refugees 

What can we do? — A peer exchange on community foundation action for refugees 

30 March 14.00-15.30 CET (online) 

The invasion of Ukraine has sparked another refugee crisis in Europe. Community foundations play an important niche role in demonstrating local compassion and in helping address immediate and longer-term needs. The types of response have included: 

• Direct intervention, mobilising people and resources to meet basic needs (transport, shelter, food, clothing, medication) 
• Funding of local NGOs that provide refugee support 
• Engaging with others (NGOs, public bodies, and private organisations) to develop systemic solutions to assist with social and economic inclusion e.g. language skills, education, employability etc) 

ECFI will facilitate a peer exchange on the topic. This will be prompted by brief inputs from practitioners with experience in these three areas of activity, from: 

• Poland; Iwona Olkowicz – Member of the Management Board at the Federation of Community Foundations in Poland and Anna Jafernik – Vice-President of Zywiec Development Foundation;  
• Germany: Mădălina Gheorghiu – Managing Director, Kai Jahns – Executive Board, Katja Neels – Project and volunteer agency coordinator from Barnim Uckermark Community Foundation;   
• Romania:  Alina Kasprovschi, Executive Director at Bucharest Community Foundation and Claudia Abrudan – Executive Director at Oradea Community Foundation, Romania. 

See a report of the meeting here