Poland
“Language Ladder” is an initiative born out of the need for a more holistic and long-term approach to the integration of refugee youth. Instead of treating language or education as separate challenges, the project focuses on how young people can regain a sense of direction, agency, and belonging in a new reality.
Activities carried out by Good Factory within the Social Innovation Fund+ program focus on creating a space where learning, relationships, and personal growth mutually reinforce each other. The project assumes that effective integration does not start with formal education, but with a sense of security, the opportunity for self-expression, and building relationships with others.
In this approach, language becomes a tool rather than an end in itself – a means to build a future, not just adapt to the present.
400,000 Ukrainian children and youth,
100 young people
the 3rd week of regular meetings
On April 10, 2025, the Good Factory Foundation launched a groundbreaking 18-month international project. The “Language Ladder” initiative is co-funded by the European Union under the Social Innovation Fund+.
Our goal is to create an innovative support model for youth (aged 13–18) who arrived in Poland and Estonia as a result of the war. We focus on modern education, language integration, and building career prospects for young people whose development was abruptly interrupted by the trauma of displacement.
Key achievements and activities in 2025:
- Summer Academy in Kraków: In July and August 2025, we organized an intensive program for 40 young people, combining Polish and English language learning with workshops focused on developing future skills.
- Ongoing educational support: Since November 2025, we have been supporting over 100 secondary school students. We conduct classes in mathematics, Polish, and English, preparing the youth for their final high school exams (matura).
- Psychosocial support: The project is not just about learning—it is, above all, a safe space for building peer relationships and regaining a sense of agency and self-confidence.
- International consortium: We work side-by-side with the Estonian Refugee Council and Tallinn University, combining practical experience with academic expertise to develop a support model that can be implemented across Europe.
We believe that by investing in these young people today, we are not only leveling the educational playing field but also building a more solidary and cohesive society. Thanks to the trust of major grantmakers and the support of our Donors, we plan to provide vocational workshops for another 240 teenagers in 2026.