Przemysyl, Poland Refugee Center

This is the typical experience of arriving at a refugee center.

First step - Entrance hall. Volunteers from all over the world check them in here. There are Polish armed police at every door to keep the refugees safe from human trafficking predators as if this lived crisis is not soul-crushing enough. Today, most of the refugees appeared calm and stoic on the outside, but sometimes the children have a panic reaction when they see the armed officers. They are scared of them and what they have seen people dressed like them do.

Step 2 - get phones set up, SIM cards, etc. so they can help themselves. Today, T Mobile and Lyca were there.

Step 3 - Apteka - pharmacy - get medicine if needed.

Step 4 - Information booth. Lots of signs taped up everywhere. On the volunteer vests, you write (in that language) what languages you can speak. All the rooms in the giant building are numbered so once the refugees are assigned to a room they can look for that number/symbol and go there.

Step 5 - where to go next. This part was so interesting to me - like a choose your own (unwanted) adventure. At this center, these were the countries (see flags hanging) that were offering help. (There were a few more around the corner too - like Germany, but no US or Canada). This area was set up and staffed by mostly student volunteers!!!!! They would answer questions about the country the refugees were interested in and then use social media sites and internet searches to find them transportation and accommodation in the country they chose!! Germany’s volunteers were highly effective the German buses at this center were highly reliable and frequent so this week, many refugees chose Germany. They can train to other countries from there, but many got on buses to Germany. 

Step 6 - eat. Bravo WCK! They have outposts in so many refugee centers. Delicious, nourishing, reliable, free and warm meals. There was another one indoors here with a large seating area. It was really cold outside today.

In addition to WCK, there were many enterprising individuals who registered as volunteers (all must be officially registered and have a wristband) who offered food truck type of offerings. This week here, there were 2 gals from the Netherlands making fresh (and very popular) pancakes at their outdoor kiosk (they brought over a thousand pounds of flour and eggs, etc!) and a fabulous food truck from Italy (Italpizza) that offered fresh free pizza out of their mobile wood burning ovens!! These are the people and stories that remind us of humanity’s beauty.

Step 7 - shower. Mass portable outdoor showers. Towels in big bins in front of each shower.

The Tesco Center in Poland – the largest refugee center here.