We do not forget. College of Vocational Training supports the celebration of Missing Children's Day.
25 May is a date that reminds us that behind every statistic is a story - family, hope and waiting. On this day, the International Day of the Missing Child is celebrated worldwide. In Poland, it is symbolised by the forget-me-not, a delicate flower that says one thing: we do not forget. Every year, the police receive nearly 2,000 reports of missing children and young people. Although most cases end up happily found, some remain unexplained for years. That is why it is so important to talk about prevention, education and cooperation - not just once a year.
Support systems that operate 24/7
Since 2011, the ITAKA Foundation has operated a 24-hour hotline in cases of missing minors - on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. Two helplines are currently available:
- Missing Child and Teen Phone (open 24 hours a day) - 116 000.
- Support Line for Missing Persons' Families - 22 654 70 70.
In the event of a suspected crime or imminent threat to a child's life, the following may be activated system Child Alert - a special mechanism for the immediate dissemination of messages in public spaces and the media. Speed of response is crucial here.
Blue light of hope
In a gesture of solidarity with the families of missing persons Warsaw will light up in blue. The Palace of Culture and Science, the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge, the Police Headquarters and Warsaw Spire will be illuminated to symbolically draw attention to a topic that affects us all. Blue is the colour of hope - and it is this hope that the families of children who still have not returned home need.
Collaboration of science and practice. Activities of the College of Vocational Training
The College of Vocational Training has been actively involved in the subject of disappearances for years - not only through education, but also through research. The university's initiatives are creating special issue of the magazine "Law and Safety", entirely devoted to the legal and social aspects of the search for missing persons.
In studies related to criminology and homeland security, students learn about the real-world tools used in search operations. A particular contribution to the development of research into disappearances has been made by Dr Irena Malinowska, an expert and author of publications including "Missing Persons as a Contemporary Security Threat", which has been researching the topic of disappearances in Poland and Europe for years.
In May, the School had the honour of hosting the President of the ITAKA Foundation, Anna Jurkiewiczwho shared her practical knowledge and experience of working with missing persons and their families during her lectures.
Joint debate on systemic solutions
As early as 12 June 2025, Dr Irena Malinowska, representing the School of Vocational Training, take part in an international conference organised by the ITAKA Foundation and the Missing Children Europe Federation. The meeting will take place at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Warsaw at 5 Stefana Batorego Street.
The theme will be parental abductions, teenage runaways and effective prevention strategies. The conference will bring together experts from all over Europe and aims not only to exchange knowledge, but above all to find concrete solutions to real problems.