New Caritas Social Integration Centers – effective help for those in need

Material prepared for the press.

In a world of constant socio-economic changes, one of the greatest challenges remains the integration of people at risk of social exclusion. Unemployment, addictions, homelessness, disability or criminal past - these are just some of the barriers faced by people excluded from the mainstream of social life. It is with them in mind that the Social Integration Centers (CIS) operate, whose task is to help return to the labor market and to an active life. One of the most dynamic operators of such facilities is Caritas Archdiocese of Przemyśl.

Social Integration Centres operate under the Social Employment Act of 2003. Their activities are based on the idea of ​​social and professional reintegration of people in difficult life situations. CISs offer a comprehensive support programme, the aim of which is not only to improve the professional qualifications of participants, but also to rebuild their self-confidence, social competences and the ability to function independently in society. Programme participants acquire new skills in practical professional workshops, such as catering, renovation, gardening, handicraft, administration, trade or care. Participation in a CIS also involves receiving remuneration, a hot meal and - equally important - support from specialists: psychologists, career counsellors, social workers and instructors.

Caritas of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl currently runs nine Social Integration Centers. The first one started operating in Przemyśl in 2013. The next ones were established in Przychojec, Wola Zarczycka, Tryńcza (since 2018), Zarzecze (since 2020) and Łańcut (since 2021). In 2025, this network expanded to include three new centers – in Adamówka, Sieniawa and Jawornik Polski – encompassing a total of 80 new program participants. Currently, there are 300 beneficiaries in all facilities. Each of the new facilities was designed with the needs of the local community and the potential of the participants in mind:

- Adamówka (commune of Adamówka) – CIS has accepted 20 participants here, who work in two workshops: care and economic and order. The facility responds to the needs of the local community, providing care for the elderly and assistance in maintaining order in public spaces.

- Sieniawa (Sieniawa city and commune) – 30 participants work in as many as three workshops: catering, renovation and construction, and gardening and cleaning. This extensive profile responds to both local needs and employment opportunities after the program ends.

- Jawornik Polski (city and commune of Jawornik Polski) – CIS in this town also included 30 participants, proposing three activation paths: animation-recreation, care-tidying and renovation-economic. The animation-recreation workshop is particularly innovative, the first of its kind in the Caritas structure, responding to the needs of intergenerational integration and support for cultural activities.

The Mayor of the City and Commune of Sieniawa and representatives of Przemyśl Caritas.

The effectiveness of Caritas CISs results from an interdisciplinary approach to the needs of participants. Each facility employs a team of specialists, led by the center manager and instructors responsible for conducting workshops. A career counselor assesses the predispositions of participants, monitors their development and supports them in finding employment after the program ends. A psychologist conducts therapeutic workshops, conducts psychological diagnoses and initiates support groups. In turn, a social worker helps solve the participants' living and social problems and supervises their development path. Each participant can use the CIS program for a maximum of 24 months. During this time, they perform various tasks for the local community - in schools, offices, kindergartens or cultural centers. These activities bring benefits not only to the participants themselves, but also to entire municipalities - improving the aesthetics of the surroundings, supporting the elderly and filling staff shortages in local institutions. The project: "Actively with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl", under which new facilities were created, is financed by the Voivodeship Labor Office in Rzeszów. These funds not only allow for workshops and remuneration for participants, but also provide them with additional support in the form of food parcels, legal services and specialist advice. To date, nearly 5,000 people have benefited from the support of the centres, many of whom have successfully returned to the labour market or started their own businesses. The CISs also offer the possibility of re-recruitment, which gives a chance to those who need longer-term support.

The newly established Social Integration Centres in Adamówka, Sieniawa and Jawornik Polski are proof that properly planned and directed social assistance can bring real changes – both in the life of an individual and entire communities. It is an investment in human capital that pays off – not only morally, but also economically. Caritas shows that assistance to those in need can be effective if it is based on understanding, cooperation and a systemic approach to social problems. That is why the Social Integration Centres are becoming one of the pillars of active social policy – ​​with hope for a better tomorrow for everyone who finds it difficult to find their place in the world today.

Rev. Dr. Paweł Konieczny – Deputy Director of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl