„Baobab” in Lublin as an Example of Creating a New Quality of Social Integration Space

The outbreak of the war with Russia in Ukraine has caused an increase in the number of refugees arriving in Poland and other European countries. From the early days of the conflict, support and integration centers began to emerge in many cities, changing the landscape of public and cultural spaces and creating new opportunities to address the migration crisis. Lublin quickly responded to this crisis at the start of the conflict. After more than two years, the city has gained about 20.000 new residents. Their presence is evident socially and through new places and functions for integration, assistance, and humanitarian support. The organization of these places has significantly changed, initially relying on temporary solutions and later developing permanent informational and integration centers. A notable example of successful integration is the Baobab¹ Multicultural Integration Center in central Lublin, which serves as a high-quality, inclusive space for building connections, and integrating residents.