Growing up overnight

Alone in a new country, Iwan had to grow up overnight.

Before the war, he was just like any other teenager in Ukraine—his life filled with school, friends, and routine. “I had no major duties apart from learning,” he says.

But when the conflict broke out, everything changed in an instant.

Iwan fled Ukraine on an overcrowded train bound for Poland. “There were so many people, it’s hard to imagine,” he recalls. “Children, mothers with babies, elderly women—sitting on the floor in the corridors. There was barely space for our bags, let alone ourselves.”

Crossing the border brought safety, but also fear and uncertainty. “When I arrived, I was met by people holding signs saying ‘We are with you’—they gave us food and necessities. I felt cared for. But I didn’t speak Polish or English.”

That’s when Iwan found JRS Poland—a trusted project partner of Jesuit Mission Australia.

A second home and a second chance

More than just a place to learn the language, JRS became a second home. “Thanks to JRS, I learned Polish and I’m learning English too. I always feel welcome.”

Now 17, Iwan’s childhood may have been cut short, but his future is taking shape—thanks to the compassion of people like you.

“I would like to stay in Poland,” he says. “Here I have friends, family, study, even work. I don’t know what comes next—but I know I’m not alone.”

The war in Ukraine has caused Europe’s largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, with over 8.8 million people—nearly one in three Ukrainians—fleeing their homes, leaving behind their memories and hopes for the future.

Through The One Proposal, Jesuit Mission and partners like JRS Europe, including JRS Poland, have reached more than 127,000 people affected by the war in Ukraine.

The program provides not only essential emergency aid, such as food and shelter, but also psychosocial support, legal assistance, education, and employment opportunities to help refugees rebuild their lives.

Your support gave Iwan more than safety. You helped him find belonging—and the strength to dream again.

Find out more

• Read more about our Ukraine emergency reponse