Miss World CEO Julia Morley and Miss World 2022 Karolina Bielawska are currently in Warsaw as they received a warm welcome with song and dance by Ukrainian children at the newly converted Polish Seminary in Oltarzew, Warsaw.
The seminary is now named ‘The Future for Ukraine Centre’ and is located in Ozarow Mazowieckie, about 30 kilometres south of Warsaw. The facility is the brainchild of Father Miroslav Mejzner who saw the opportunity for the Church to play their part in the support for Ukrainian refugees.
The Seminary has, for many years, been the residential centre for training Priests throughout Poland but Father Miroslav sought permission from the Church to convert the Seminary into a unique facility to house and treat some of the most severely disadvantaged children of Ukraine.
The Church gave his inspired idea their full backing and Father Miroslav and his Pallottine Order set about finding the €1.5 million Euros needed to convert the Seminary. The new facility offers 96 of the most severely traumatised Ukrainian children (and their mothers), safe accommodation, food, educational and psychological support to cope with the losses and horrors that they have suffered as result of the War in Ukraine.
The specially trained staff respond to the needs of the traumatised children to facilitate their way back into everyday life including participating in schools and educational programs.
“Last year we asked the Miss World Organisation if they would give their support to the building of a Future For Ukraine Centre. The CEO of Miss World Julia Morley immediately offered their help and they have been with us ever since! This is why it means so much to welcome Julia Morley and Karolina Bielawska today to see our dreams realised for the Children of Ukraine”, he said.
Karolina Bielawska also added, “This is one of my happiest days as Miss World - Father Miroslav and Father Krys have been an inspiration to me ever since we started fundraising with them in New Jersey last March. They are very special people and what the Pallotine Order has created here is nothing short of miraculous!”