The Role of the Non-Governmental Organisations and Volunteers in Organising Support for Ukrainian Refugees: The Case Study from Slovakia

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and volunteers in organising support for Ukrainian refugees, focusing on a case study from Slovakia. Since the onset of unprovoked Russian aggression, more than 13 million individuals have fled Ukraine, leading to a massive refugee crisis. Civil society, including NGOs, volunteers and active citizens, played a crucial role in Slovakia. The study analyses the structure of the support system for people arriving from Ukraine to Slovakia, focusing on spontaneous assistance, adaptation and integration stages. It also explores the involvement of NGOs in communication with the government and data from representative research on volunteer engagement in the Ukrainian refugee crisis. These analyses demonstrate that NGOs and volunteers played a pivotal role in responding to the crisis, providing humanitarian aid and supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia. The chapter also emphasises the importance of a sustainable financial environment for NGOs and the need for a more systematic response from public authorities to support refugees.