CEB Award Recognizes Warsaw Ukrainian School’s Exceptional Efforts in Refugee Integration

CEB Award Recognizes Warsaw Ukrainian School’s Exceptional Efforts in Refugee Integration

(IN BRIEF) The Warsaw Ukrainian School (SzkoUA) receives the prestigious CEB Award for Social Cohesion for its outstanding efforts in integrating refugee children from Ukraine, offering a dual Ukrainian-Polish curriculum and prioritizing mental well-being through access to psychological support. Established in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, SzkoUA serves as a vital bridge to Europe for its students, emphasizing both Ukrainian identity and integration into European culture. Runners-up Soliguide from France and ComActivate from the Slovak Republic are also recognized for their initiatives in aiding vulnerable populations, with each project receiving €5,000.

(PRESS RELEASE) REYKJAVIK, 7-Jun-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The Warsaw Ukrainian School (SzkoUA) clinched this year’s prestigious CEB Award for Social Cohesion, celebrating its remarkable initiatives aiding the integration of refugee children from Ukraine. ComActivate from the Slovak Republic and Soliguide from France received commendations at the award ceremony held last night in Reykjavík, setting the stage for the CEB’s 57th Joint Meeting commencing today.

Valued at €45,000, the award commends SzkoUA for its “unique and outstanding contribution” to promoting social cohesion. Established in April 2022 amid Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, SzkoUA has provided a lifeline for refugee children, offering a dual Ukrainian-Polish curriculum and creating a nurturing environment for students to continue their studies while facilitating their integration into the local community. Led by Principal Oksana Kolesnyk, SzkoUA emphasizes maintaining Ukrainian identity while fostering connections with European culture, serving as a beacon of hope for the displaced children. Notably, the school also prioritizes mental well-being by offering access to psychological support and employs refugee teachers to further enhance social integration and financial security.

SzkoUA’s Vice Principal, Antonina Michałowska, expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment, highlighting the importance of Europe’s continued support for Ukrainian children. CEB Governor Carlo Monticelli commended SzkoUA’s efforts, affirming the CEB’s commitment to fostering social cohesion and assisting vulnerable groups.

Additionally, the ceremony recognized Soliguide and ComActivate as runners-up, each receiving €5,000. Soliguide, a French project, offers an online platform mapping essential services for individuals facing precarity in France and Spain, while ComActivate, hailing from the Slovak Republic, addresses energy poverty in Central and Eastern Europe by enhancing energy efficiency in apartment buildings, with a focus on aiding vulnerable populations.

Runners-up
During the CEB Award ceremony, two runners-up were also recognised; Soliguide and ComActivate will each receive €5,000.

Soliguide is a project from France providing an online platform mapping useful places and services, such as food banks, health services and legal advice centres, for people experiencing precarity in France and Spain.

ComActivate, a project from the Slovak Republic, tackles energy poverty in Central and Eastern Europe by improving energy efficiency in apartment buildings, primarily helping vulnerable populations such as elderly people and single-parent households.

About the CEB Award
Launched in 2020, the CEB Award for Social Cohesion rewards projects making significant contributions to social cohesion. As of 2024, the winning prize has increased to €45,000, up from €25,000 in 2023. Additionally, two runners-up receive a €5,000 prize each.

The winners and runners-up are selected by an international Jury of experts based on the criteria of impact, sustainability and innovation/replicability. This year, the Jury was presided over by Christos Giakoumopoulos, Director General, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Council of Europe. The Jury included:

– Ornella D’Amico, Deputy Secretary General, Finance in Common
– Guillaume Capelle, Founder of SINGA and CALM
– Thomas Marois, Reader in Development Studies, SOAS University of London
– Tomáš Boček, Vice-Governor for Target Group Countries, CEB

For more information visit award.coebank.org.

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is a multilateral development bank, whose unique mission is to promote social cohesion in its 43 member states across Europe. The CEB finances investment in social sectors, including education, health and affordable housing, with a focus on the needs of vulnerable people. Borrowers include governments, local and regional authorities, public and private banks, non-profit organisations and others. As a multilateral bank with an excellent credit rating, the CEB funds itself on the international capital markets. It approves projects according to strict social, environmental and governance criteria, and provides technical assistance. In addition, the CEB receives funds from donors to complement its activities.

Media Contact:

Jelica Vesic
Communications Officer/CEB Award Coordinator
+33 6 03 12 57 80 – jelica.vesic@coebank.org

SOURCE: Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)