Warsaw Refugee Center
Create safe reading havens for displaced children, fostering healing, hope, and literacy through peer mentorship and community connection.
A Reading Corner of Hope and Healing
From 2022 to 2025, the Kasprzaka Refugee Center in the heart of Warsaw served as a safe haven for hundreds of Ukrainian families fleeing the horrors of war. Among the chaos and displacement, MERCYworldwide, in partnership with the Heroes and Hearts initiative, founded by 7-year-old Justyn Bouman and his family, established a bright, welcoming Reading Corner that became a sanctuary for over 100 displaced children.
Filled with donated books, educational games, and cozy seating, this small space offered something far greater than just learning, it offered peace, connection, and a path toward emotional healing.
What made this project truly extraordinary were the young women who led it: Lesia, Katia, Liuba, and Angelina, themselves teenage refugees who had fled the trauma of war, became peer mentors and role models. Instead of remaining in survival mode, they chose to give back, devoting their time to lead reading groups, organize games, and create a safe, nurturing environment for younger children.
Through their courage and compassion, they transformed personal pain into purposeful action, becoming agents of hope and healing. Among the many remarkable children was Loisha, a hearing-impaired badminton champion who turned mentor. Alongside his sister Valeria, Loisha helped organize reading sessions and even badminton tournaments, proving that resilience knows no bounds.
Though the Kasprzaka Refugee Center officially closed in 2025, its impact will not be forgotten. For three powerful years, this Reading Corner stood as:
A calm refuge in the storm of displacement
A platform for peer healing and leadership
A reminder that even small spaces can ignite big change
Through the dedication of MERCY Ambassadors and the generosity of young visionaries like Justyn, this initiative showed the world that healing happens in community—and that even the youngest hearts can lead with strength and compassion.
Why These Libraries Matter
Safe Havens in the City: In areas where resources are scarce, MERCY Libraries offer clean, peaceful, and inspiring spaces where children can focus, learn, and dream.
Local Leaders Rising: Individuals like Loisha help cultivate a culture of reading and growth.
Healing Through Literacy: In both schools, storytelling has become more than fun, it’s become a way for children to process their struggles and rediscover joy.
These libraries are not just rooms filled with books, they are beacons of hope, built by the hands and hearts of Ambassadors determined to imitate Christ through service. As MERCYworldwide continues to expand these life-giving spaces, one thing remains clear:
“The Word became flesh”
Support
Your donations help reading centers like the one in Warsaw provide a safe haven for children impacted by disaster or poverty. MERCY maintains several libraries in Manilla, Philippines which serve thousands of student, providing needed connection. We help fund materials required to equip and empower local leaders as they build a culture of literacy.
