Hope and Opportunity for Teens in Przemyśl Refugee Center

Tali Prilutski in the Youth Center at Przemyśl

“It was very empowering. It made teenagers feel in control and gave them the opportunity to contribute, rather than feeling like a survivor and just following the parents’ decisions. It was heartwarming.”

Tali Prilutski is a resident of Jerusalem, Israel, where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Social Work and is currently pursuing her MBA in Business at the Hebrew University. In March, she joined the Ukrainian Refugee Relief Operation in Poland as a member of Team 3, where she served as a social worker. Tali's proficiency in Russian proved to be invaluable in her role, allowing her to effectively communicate with the Ukrainians arriving at the Przemysl Humanitarian Aid Center. During her deployment, she played a crucial role in setting up a youth center for Ukrainian teenagers. This center provided a space for them to interact and share their experiences but also to sing, play music, and simply be young adults again.

In Tali’s words: What struck me the most during my interaction with the people was not just the communication with them and hearing their horrific stories, but also comprehending their underlying needs and constructing a project that caters to those needs. They may not know how to voice these needs; they know how to ask for shoes or a warm jacket, for example, but not necessarily how to articulate their other necessities – necessities that are normal, and human.

My fellow volunteer, Neta Haskin, and I saw the needs that go beyond survival. The youth needed a meeting place with their peers, to share, and contain their concerns. All this was alongside the medical service, food, accommodation, and equipment that their parents took care of.

These Ukrainian teenagers suddenly found themselves on a journey to a foreign country, forced to leave behind their possessions. They arrived at the refugee camp with very little, and many of them struggled, spending their days just lying in bed, unable to find the energy or motivation to move. I know from my studies that especially at this age it is crucial for their development, to be active, and to be surrounded by peers their own age, rather than just relying on their parents or younger children.

Youth Center

 The Power of Peer Support at the Youth Center

At first, they only spent a few hours at the youth center, but it quickly became an incredible experience. Over a few days, they formed connections and bonds with each other, playing instruments like the guitar, or games like cards. I recall one day, one of the teenagers, who was leaving for Spain with his mother the next day, shared his fears with his new friends. Another girl, who was heading to Austria, offered her support. They had a conversation that only people their own age could truly understand. We stepped back, letting them lead the way, because that's all they needed from us - a place to be with others their age. And then, they did the rest, connecting and expressing themselves in their own way.

Empowering Youth Through Volunteerism

I think that one of our greatest achievements with the youth is that we turned them into volunteers themselves. We even brought them vests and they really took part and helped. It was very empowering. It made them feel in control and gave them the opportunity to contribute, rather than feeling like a survivor and just following the parents' decisions. It was heartwarming.

The importance of creating a safe place for teenagers with their active participation empowered them, gave them a sense of control and safety. This worked as a support system for them: they could share their concerns, difficulties and dilemmas, and they were able to open up with the new friends they made. In this project, it was actually important for us to take a step back and give them the space to help and support each other.