Strengthening Connections: The Baltic Region Roma Women Association (Lithuania) Visits EGALA (Poland)

Bialystok, Poland: 19-22 August 2024

MARIO Programme provides a possibility for the programme partners to visit each other and learn from each other. Such a peer exchange visit took place in August, in Bialystok, Poland. This peer exchange visit took place in August in Bialystok, Poland, where the Lithuanian team met with the EGALA team.

The collaboration began in March during the Central Training organized in Budapest, where participants from six countries—Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Lithuania—gathered to learn about each other’s projects. This event facilitated connections with organizations that work with minorities across different nations. At the training, BRRA established a connection with EGALA, an organization that supports migrant and refugee communities in Poland. Taking advantage of the peer exchange visit grant, BRRA traveled to Bialystok from August 19-22 to visit EGALA and its units in Hainuvka and Budy.

Located near the border with Belarus, EGALA primarily works with migrants from Belarus. The first stop was Hainuvka, where the organization maintains a facility stocked with essential relief items for refugees, such as clothing, food, and first aid kits. This facility operates within the premises of a hospital, and EGALA closely collaborates with medical personnel who assist exhausted or injured asylum seekers.

A “hospital team” provides care for those needing medical assistance, as many asylum seekers arrive in critical condition after long journeys through the forests. Kasia, a team member, shared insights about this vital work. The team also visited the base in Budy, where field officers are the first point of contact for asylum seekers and liaise with border guards. They provide food, clothing, SIM cards, and other support to those in need. EGALA collaborates closely with organizations such as PAH and MSF, and the BRRA team had the opportunity to interact directly with caseworkers Jarek, Agnieszka, and Olia.

The following day, the team visited EGALA’s office in Bialystok, where Pawel, who assists asylum seekers in open and closed camps, discussed the challenges they encounter and the solutions they seek. The group also toured a newly established apartment intended for individuals beginning their journey in the Polish labor market. This comfortable accommodation is designated for those who have secured employment and need temporary housing until they can rent an apartment independently. Ana, who manages the apartment, warmly and professionally shared the difficulties faced in supporting asylum seekers in their transition.

This visit proved to be an enriching experience. Common aspects of their work emerged: both migrants and Roma people often face discrimination, and the challenges encountered by organizations supporting these communities are similar—language barriers, lack of necessary documentation, and cultural differences can lead to various complex situations.

The teams exchanged best practices and discussed case studies; for instance, Kasia recounted how she accompanied a woman from Namibia to a hospital, acting as her translator to ensure proper assistance was provided. They also talked about situations where individuals refuse help, express distrust, or flee when offered assistance.

Such meetings reinforce the belief that this work is meaningful. Many organizations operate under principles of humanity and kindness, demonstrating that the world can become a better place for everyone.