Originally established as an immediate response to individuals experiencing distress – whether in transit or staying in emergency facilities such as reception centres and shelters – our mobile teams help mitigate the impact of trauma. This includes distress resulting from displacement, loss of family connections, and disruptions to everyday life. 

Since VELA’s inception, the Starlight Programme has been continuously implemented through the first quarter of 2025 across three voivodeships: Małopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovian), and Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesian). During this period, VELA Poland has served as UNICEF’s child protection partner on the ground, delivering mobile and community-based psychosocial support to refugees and migrants in vulnerable situations. 

We worked with teams of experienced psychologists, social workers, and outreach officers who visit large-scale accommodation centres as well as smaller shelters in Warsaw and Kraków. Our professionals supported the most vulnerable populations, focusing on children, women, and individuals facing psychological challenges. We provided both group and individual activities, including women’s groups, children’s groups, recreational activities for children, parenting support, and individual consultations.