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 from other organizations, two clinics are now operating several days each month just for female refugees from Ukraine who are now living in Poland.
Not long after Russia attacked Ukraine, the Via Stella Foundation was created in April of 2022 by Brian Branch, the former president of the World Council of Credit Unions, and Sue Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates. They in turn reached out to Rafal Matusiak, president & CEO of Poland’s trade association, the National Association of Credit and Savings Unions (NACSCU), who now chairs the Via Stella Foundation. From day one, Matusiak has emphasized NACSCU is covering all costs related to operating the foundation and 100% any money donated goes directly to those it seeks to help.
CUToday.info joined representatives of the Via Stella Foundationthis week as they visit with the various recipients of its assistance in Poland and Ukraine and discuss what else can be done.