A Cork-based charity is helping Ukrainian refugees in getting online, as Together-Razem launches the first phase of the #laptops4ua initiative.
nder the scheme, Ukrainian refugees who fled to Ireland following the Russian invasion can apply to receive a free, refurbished laptop from the charity, which aims to support Eastern European people living in Ireland.
CEO of Together-Razem, Voyteck Bialek, said “We launched the #laptops4ua project for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland, because having access to a laptop can help them in so many practical and valuable ways.
“For example, they can apply for jobs, learn English and study for college.
“Laptops can also help entertain and educate children, which is particularly important for people in living conditions that may be cramped.”
Under this first phase of the scheme, which received nearly 900 applications, 270 laptops were donated, and recipients were judged based on the highest level of need by both staff and Ukrainian volunteers. Donations came from the employees of a number of tech companies, as well as from Amazon under the #AWSInCommunities program.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has kindly supported the initiative. Their donations will greatly help the lives of the people who receive them,”
Mr Bialek added. Together-Razem is the national Irish charity supporting people from Poland and Eastern Europe living in Ireland.
Established in Cork in 2006, it is solely reliant on either donated or short-term project funding.
Along with the #laptops4uainitiative, Together-Razem also runs other beneficial programs for Eastern Europeans, including mental health services, English classes for both beginners and intermediate-level speakers, advice services for migrants and intercultural events to integrate and advocate for the Eastern European migrant community . They also run a twice-weekly Polish class, where children are taught the language as well as the history and culture of Poland through the Razen Academy initiative.
They also offer a support hub for Ukrainian refugees, called Together4Ukraine, which is available in the Blackpool Community Center in Cork City.
Refugees can be signposted to essential services for psychosocial and mental health support, including trauma counseling, family support programs and a peer support network along with more.
For more information about Together-Razem, as well as other ways to support the charity and Eastern European migrants, visit their website at www.together-razem.org, as well as their social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Donations can be made through the charity’s Donorbox page, a link to which is available on the website.