We are a Polish non-governmental organisation, operating since 1992. Since 2004, we have also been a public benefit organisation.
We live and breathe humanitarian aid: we are there where support is most needed, operating all over the world. We respond in places where humanitarian crises erupt: natural disasters and armed conflicts. Immediate crisis response is our priority, but we are also concerned with developing long-term solutions and preventing further disasters.
We protect civilians: the most important thing for us is the life and health of others. In our actions, we provide assistance to all who need it. We do not differentiate between parties to a conflict or religious groups, guided by respect for people of different races, nationalities and religions. True, we pay special attention to some, the most vulnerable groups: women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and internally displaced people. With our attitude and decisions, we ensure that the people we help trust us and see our actions as trustworthy. We ensure the quality of our assistance by adhering to the SPHERE standards. We also express our responsibility to the people we help in how we talk about them and our activities. The ethical dimension of our communications is governed by the Code on images and messages concerning countries of the South.
We help responsibly: in our work we remember that we are only a guest there. We look for such forms of action that can become more permanent or those that offer opportunities for development. Our support is tailored to a specific culture and customs of those we help. On-the-ground activities are primarily carried out by local staff from the country in which we operate. We source products, equipment and tools as close as possible to where we operate – so we also support the local economy. The ethical framework for our operations is governed by the Red Cross Code. In countries affected by humanitarian crises, we work with the support of the humanitarian cluster system, which regulates and coordinates activities in the region. This allows our aid to be more effectively suited to the needs and goes where other organisations have not helped yet. It can also be complementary to other organisations operating in the same place.
We educate the public: we target Poles with various social campaigns. We inform about the needs of the people in the countries where we operate, drawing attention to global needs and human rights, such as access to potable water, food, safe shelter and toilets. We engage the public to take an active role in humanitarian aid. We support the organisation of grassroots fundraising and events to raise awareness of the needs of others. We involve Polish schools in national education campaigns: we train children and young people.
