Since 2018, the Ukraine Foundation has employed intercultural assistants to support migrant students in schools, as well as their parents, teachers, and the broader school community. Until 2023, the Foundation acted as their sole employer. 

In January 2024 a new 50/50 employment model was introduced in cooperation with Wrocław’s Department of Education, under which 34 assistants are employed on the basis of 2 part-time contracts: one directly with schools and the other with the foundation. This model aims to improve intercultural assistants’ salaries, ensure employment stability, and maintain staffing levels despite limited grant funding.

This evaluation report of the 50/50 model highlights both its benefits and the challenges it faces. On the positive side, assistants and school directors said they appreciate the higher salaries and employment continuity it ensures, including during school holidays, which has improved their financial stability. It also offers development opportunities, such as staff training, language courses, and integration programmes for students. It terms of challenges, the report finds that the model introduces administrative difficulties, including people having to manage responsibilities in 2 different workplaces and inconsistent wage calculation across schools. In addition some assistants have been tasked with unrelated duties, such as caring for children with disabilities, due to a lack of clear job guidelines. 

The report's main conclusion is that the programme’s reliance on temporary grants highlights the need for public institutions to take full responsibility for the employment of intercultural assistants.