Scars You Cannot See – Building Bridges

About the Project

“Invisible Scars – Building Bridges” is a project implemented by the Pastoral Family Care Foundation (PFCF). Its aim is to foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and empathy by giving a voice to people who have experienced war and forced displacement. The project focuses on the authentic stories of refugee women living at the Collective Accommodation Centre operated by the Foundation in Przemyśl, Poland.

The project is centred around the book “Invisible Scars”, written collaboratively by women residing in our accommodation centre. The publication presents personal stories of losing home, experiencing war, rebuilding life in Poland, and gradually regaining a sense of safety, dignity, and agency. Its purpose is to reveal the human face of migration and help challenge stereotypes about refugees.

What Are The Main Activities?

As part of the project, we will:

  • publish the book “Invisible Scars” in Polish and Ukrainian;
  • organise a public book launch and discussion featuring the authors;
  • prepare a photographic exhibition showcasing the daily lives of the residents of our accommodation centre and the Foundation’s activities;
  • host a series of online discussions dedicated to the experiences of women with lived experience of forced displacement;
  • carry out a public awareness campaign promoting reliable information about migration, integration, and human rights.
Why Are We Implementing This Project?

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Foundation has supported people seeking refuge in Poland. Our everyday work with refugees has shown that humanitarian assistance alone is not enough. Equally important is creating opportunities for dialogue and mutual understanding between refugees and local communities.

The project responds to the growing challenges posed by stereotypes, misinformation, and social prejudice. Through real-life stories, we want to show that behind the statistics are real people—with their own experiences, hopes, dreams, and everyday struggles.

Project Objectives

The project aims to:

  • increase public awareness of the situation of refugees;
  • counter stereotypes and misinformation;
  • strengthen intercultural dialogue;
  • promote values such as dignity, solidarity, equality, and human rights;
  • encourage the active participation of people with refugee experience in public debate and community life.
The Project in Numbers
  • 1,500 copies of the book will be published and distributed to readers and institutions.
  • 4 educational and promotional events will be organised.
  • 3 open online meetings will be held.
  • 30 photographs will be presented in the exhibition.
  • More than 6,500 people are expected to benefit from the project’s educational and awareness-raising activities.
Funding

The project “Invisible Scars – Building Bridges” is implemented by the Pastoral Family Care Foundation (PFCF) under the SPLOT Values 2.0 programme, co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme.