Building social awareness

The Polsat Foundation and the Przyjaciółka Foundation have launched a national program aimed at creating or improving housing for orphans and foster families. With the financial support of insurance firm Eureko, the "Family - A Home Built with Love" program will feature campaigns to encourage local authorities to build a care system for both the child and the family. The system is to be based on respect for children, the family's autonomy and the child's right to be brought up within a family.

"There are over 20,000 abandoned and lonely children with no chance for proper emotional and social development," says Małgorzata Żak, president of the Polsat Foundation.

Michał Nastula, president of Eureko Polska, says that the cooperation with the two foundations gives his company an opportunity to help children. "We believe that a loving family is the best investment for the future," he states.

The organizers of the program, along with local authorities, will build, adapt and renovate houses and apartments and pursue initiatives so that would-be foster families whose homes are not large enough or of a high enough standard have a chance to take in a child.

The number of orphans in Poland is close to 70,000. Around 45,000 are taken care of by foster families. The remaining children live in orphanages which, due to overcrowding, are unable to mentally and emotionally prepare them for later life or offer them the necessary skills to become self-sufficient. The program also aims to provide housing for former residents of orphanages.