See how we work
We connect volunteers with centers
Upskill Shelters is a project created with the aim of providing real support to people in the homeless crisis by acting as a link between support centres and volunteers. We have noticed that many people would like to help, but often do not know how to start or what exactly to do. On the other hand, centres that need support have difficulty reaching the right people. That is why we have created a platform that simplifies the process of volunteering, allowing you to quickly find a centre that needs help at a given moment. Our goal is not only to facilitate contact itself, but also to provide volunteers with access to knowledge and tools that will help them act effectively.
Nie tylko zatrudnienie, ale przede wszystkim kontakt z drugim człowiekiem.
One of the key problems of people in the homeless crisis is, contrary to popular belief, not the lack of employment and finances to live on, but social isolation and lack of emotional support. Many residents of shelters and centers are already working, but despite this, they have difficulty finding their place in society. UpSkill Shelters was created to strengthen people in a difficult situation in the belief that they are not alone and, like every person, deserve a second chance. We believe that even the simplest conversation can become the reason for an attempt to fully return to society and that a friendly smile can restore self-confidence and motivation to act.
Działamy razem z istniejącymi organizacjami
To increase the effectiveness of our activities, we cooperate with various organizations that have been helping people in the homeless crisis for years. We do not want to duplicate existing initiatives, but to strengthen them – our platform is primarily a tool that helps to better coordinate help. Thanks to it, volunteers can easily find a center in their area, find out what help they can offer, and contact the facility directly. Centers, on the other hand, can easily report current needs, which allows for more effective use of available resources and hands to work.
We make helping easier
Our mission is to simplify helping and make it possible for more people to get involved in volunteering without unnecessary formalities and barriers. We believe that everyone has something to offer – whether it is time, skills or simply a desire to be a support for another person. That is why Upskill Shelters is not just a platform – it is a community of people who believe that helping can be simple, effective and change lives for the better.
How did our idea come about?
1
We noticed a problem
At the beginning, there was the realization of how serious a problem the homelessness crisis is. On the one hand, noticeable to each of us, on the other, constantly belittled, pushed to the margins of society. The problem of homelessness is undoubtedly difficult and many people do not want to get involved directly, either because of fear or helplessness, hoping that "someone else, more experienced, will definitely be able to help". As UpSkill Shelters, we wanted to find a solution to this problem.
2
We examined the needs using the Design Thinking method
We contacted centers for people in crisis of homelessness, where employees and residents told us about their real needs. We wanted to investigate exactly how we can help, step by step collecting data and arranging possible solutions. When we heard about the need for volunteers, we decided to focus on this aspect. We analyzed the reasons why there are so few volunteers and how we could make more of them.
3
We have created a solution
After testing and improvements, we designed a platform that connects volunteers with centers in a simple and intuitive way. Thanks to this, help has become more accessible, and people in crisis can receive the support they need faster.
Check out our semi-final Solve For Tomorrow video
Meet our team.
We are students of the Bilingual Ekola High School in Wrocław, who have always been united by the desire to help. Together we created Upskill Shelters – an initiative that makes it easier for volunteers and centers to work together to help people in the homeless crisis.
Why did we decide to help homeless people?
Homelessness is a problem that is often perceived as just a lack of a roof over one's head, but in reality it has a much deeper root. Many people find themselves in this situation due to an unpleasant combination of circumstances - loss of job, health problems, family difficulties or lack of social support. It is the lack of relationships, loneliness and rejection that make it so difficult for homeless people to get out of this situation.
We decided to act because we saw a real gap in the support system. Many initiatives focus on providing basic needs, such as food and shelter, which is extremely important, but is not enough to effectively help these people return to independent living. We want to focus on building social bonds, reintegration and emotional support, which are key in the process of exiting homelessness.