Ukraine

By Rafal Matusiak, President — National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions Polish American Credit Union Support Fund | Via Stella Foundation https://www.viastella.pl/ December, 2024 Dear Friends, As we approach the end of this year and the third year anniversary of the attack of Russia on Ukraine, we reflect not only on the damage […]

By Rafal Matusiak, President — National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions Polish American Credit Union Support Fund | Via Stella Foundation https://www.viastella.pl/ September, 2024 Dear Friends, This month children returned to school. As you know, since 2022 Polish credit unions and Via Stella with your support have supported refugee children and the schools

“We just want to get back to a normal life.” At 4:30 in the morning we “coffeed-up” and met at the Centrum Credit Union parking lot in Bitom.  We had two ambulances to deliver.  The credit union was proud that they were part of the credit union effort to deliver two ambulances to Ukraine while

LUBLIN, Poland–Five Ukrainian refugee women, all of whom are receiving housing assistance from the credit union-supported Via Stella Fund, said that without the help their lives would be much more difficult in Poland, and they each shared their stories of what has happened to them and where they are now. They related journeys that include

LUBLIN, Poland–In some single rooms, there are three families sharing limited space and bunk beds. In the hallways, clothes hang on racks to dry. There is a shared bathroom on each floor. And everyone who lives there is thankful to have it. During CUToday.info’s week-long visit with credit unions in Poland as part of a

LVIV, Ukraine–The executive director of a credit union in Ukraine is crediting assistance from the World Council and the fact its members are borrowing again for helping it to regain its footing and remain open as this country remains under attack from Russia. Like everyone else in the country, Volodymz Sydozovskyy said Anisia Credit Union

LUBLIN, Poland–They may lead organizations significantly different in asset size, but the last 500 days for two credit union CEOs in Poland have been remarkably similar when it comes to learning how to pivot in the face of a war, how their employees and members are responding, what refugees really need, and why CU membership

LVIV, Ukraine–A pair of ambulances funded by credit unions in the United States and Poland has been delivered to Ukraine, where they are now being driven further east toward greater danger in a country constantly under attack by Russia. The ambulances, each of which was filled to the roof and from side to side with

GARCZYN, Poland–If you want to see the faces of the Ukrainian orphans U.S. and Polish credit unions have been helping, you need to exit the two-lane road in a rural area of Poland, turn onto a rough, single lane that eventually surrenders and becomes gravel, cross over the railroad tracks and drive deeper into the

GDANSK, Poland–Of all the difficult repercussions of being a refugee, one that isn’t often thought of is the inability to get medical care, which is especially true for women. Credit unions and other donors in the U.S. and Poland have taken steps to address that problem in one country. Through the Via Stella Foundation and with support