CRGP Field Reports
The following is a field report conducted by the administration team of the Convocation Refugee Grant Program. The CRGP Team travels to the project sites around Europe at least once a year to check in on project status, support the local project managers and coordinators, listen to any potential concerns or issues, and celebrate the successes.
If you would like more information on starting or finding funding for a local refugee and migrant support project, please contact our team at welcomegrant@episcopaleurope.org.
“Love Thy Neighbours” is a project implemented by the Anglican Church in Poland in partnership with Studia Poland (a for-profit entity that aligns with the project’s social mission) to equip Ukrainian refugees with the skills necessary to rebuild their lives in Poland. It provides employability training, business development courses, and language classes designed to help them integrate into Polish society and achieve financial independence.
The program has two aspects: a business training course and language training courses. The business training course is 96 hours over four months that covers: business psychology, Polish business regulations and labor and tax laws, marketing and business planning, and developing a business plan for funding applications. The language courses include specialized medical and technical Polish for professionals that gives participants government-recognized certification upon completion.
Impact and Success Stories
- 70 students have been trained since the program’s inception
- 15 graduates (first quarter 2025), 11 of whom started their own businesses
- Demographics:
- 80-90% women
- Age range: 22 to 65 years
- Beneficiary Testimonial:
- Olgais an artisan who creates handmade baptismal towels. Funding from “Love thy Neighbors” has enabled her to start a small business and sell her products through Facebook.
- Demographics:
According to UNHCR data from 2024, Poland hosts over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees. Some of the challenges the program faces are: limited Polish language proficiency, which affects refugees’ ability to set up a business; a need for long-term financial support; the legal complexities of Polish business law, and limited scope, as the program currently serves only Ukrainian refugees.
More CRGP and Refugee & Migrant News Stories
Brussels Field Site Visit: Food for Thought, Soup for Souls
The following is a field report conducted by the administration team of the Convocation Refugee Grant Program. The CRGP Team travels to the project sites around Europe at least once a year to check in on project status, support the local project managers and...
News Release: Janet Day-Strehlow named to new volunteer position: Province II – EMM Liaison
In an ongoing endeavor to maintain an avenue between Province II dioceses, congregations, and individuals and the Episcopal Church resources, two volunteers have been named to the newly-developed positions of Province II - Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM)...