Warsaw, Poland, July 4, 2023 — Three Ukrainian refugees supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) were treated to the ‘Love On Tour’ experience at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy Stadium on Sunday night, following an invitation from the English singer-songwriter Harry Styles. 13-year-old Daria, her mother Maryna and friend Daria Kathina were forced to flee their homes in Ukraine in 2022 and are now living in Sosnowiec, Poland.
Maryna told the IRC,
“Since being forced to leave our home in Ukraine last year, it’s been a challenge adjusting to life in a new country – especially for my daughter, Daria, and my 10-year-old son. I’m so grateful to Harry Styles and the IRC, which has supported me to pursue my dream career in Poland, for giving us the chance to forget our worries for a night, and sing and dance at the concert.”
Maryna and Daria fled Ukraine and their hometown of Mykolayiv in July 2022, and have now found safety in Sosnowiec, Poland, where they are rebuilding their lives. Maryna has participated in the IRC’s Step to Work project for Ukrainian refugees in Poland, attending tailored workshops on navigating the Polish job market and meeting with a dedicated career advisor who encouraged her to achieve her professional goals. With the support of the IRC, Maryna has been motivated to pursue her dream of becoming a tram driver.
Maryna, Daria and Daria Kathina are among almost 6 million Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety in another country. However, since February 2022, the International Rescue Committee have been working tirelessly to support over 94,000 Ukrainian refugees in Poland - as well as thousands more across Europe, the UK and the US - to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives.
The IRC launched an emergency response to the war in Ukraine in February 2022, working directly and with local partners to reach those most in need. In Poland, we are providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable households, improving access to legal assistance and employment services, and providing a variety of tailor-made education and protection services, including safe spaces for women and children.
Responding along the entire arc of the crisis, we are responding in Ukraine and Moldova, and running activities targeting Ukrainian refugees in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia and Bulgaria, as well as in Germany, Italy, Greece and the UK.