I’m Polina, a communications and advocacy professional with over 12 years of experience supporting international NGOs and human rights initiatives. I build and run cross-media campaigns that engage diverse audiences, drive social impact, and fuel sustainable change. I’m passionate about partnerships with EU institutions, civil society, and media, and I enjoy leading teams to deliver high-impact results in fast-paced environments. My work spans multimedia content production, strategic communications, and event coordination. I excel at developing and executing campaigns, coordinating complex cross-platform workflows, and translating policy and human-rights priorities into accessible messaging for varied audiences.…

Polina Gerelchuk

I’m Polina, a communications and advocacy professional with over 12 years of experience supporting international NGOs and human rights initiatives. I build and run cross-media campaigns that engage diverse audiences, drive social impact, and fuel sustainable change. I’m passionate about partnerships with EU institutions, civil society, and media, and I enjoy leading teams to deliver high-impact results in fast-paced environments. My work spans multimedia content production, strategic communications, and event coordination. I excel at developing and executing campaigns, coordinating complex cross-platform workflows, and translating policy and human-rights priorities into accessible messaging for varied audiences.…

Available to hire

I’m Polina, a communications and advocacy professional with over 12 years of experience supporting international NGOs and human rights initiatives. I build and run cross-media campaigns that engage diverse audiences, drive social impact, and fuel sustainable change. I’m passionate about partnerships with EU institutions, civil society, and media, and I enjoy leading teams to deliver high-impact results in fast-paced environments.

My work spans multimedia content production, strategic communications, and event coordination. I excel at developing and executing campaigns, coordinating complex cross-platform workflows, and translating policy and human-rights priorities into accessible messaging for varied audiences.

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Language

Russian
Fluent
English
Fluent
Dutch
Advanced
French
Intermediate

Work Experience

Strategic Communications Manager at Pax Christi
June 1, 2024 - Present
Developed and implemented cross-media communications strategies; increased community engagement by 200%; led advocacy on disarmament, youth in peace, and humanitarian law; built partnerships with EU institutions and civil society; created 26 newsletters for 12,500 subscribers; facilitated 50 events including lectures, film screenings, silent circles, actions, and debates.
Social Media/Web Manager at Human Rights Watch, Brussels, Belgium
February 29, 2024 - October 21, 2025
Expanded and managed the Russian-language presence across multiple social media platforms; grew followers by 200%; led strategic social media initiatives including coordinating and hosting 6 live digital events; assisted the European Media and Editorial Director in preparing and creating HRW Daily Briefs (65); translated, proofread, and published 35 articles on the website; supported the Voices for Justice fundraising gala.
Communications Officer, Membership and Outreach at Voices for Justice / EARSC, Brussels, Belgium
January 31, 2023 - October 21, 2025
Planned and implemented a complex communications strategy; monitored EU space and environmental policy and funding; provided regular policy updates to 150 members; built and managed partnerships with EU institutions and 145 members; coordinated high-level dialogues with institutional partners.
Advocacy Volunteer at Ukrainian Refugees Advocacy, Brussels, Belgium
January 1, 2022 - Present
Advocating for Ukrainian refugees in Belgium; leading solidarity community; organizing housing for 700+ refugees; promoting survivor participation in advocacy and policy events.
Advocacy/Support Worker at Cherut Belgium
December 31, 2020 - October 21, 2025
Supporting women to exit sex work or trafficking; advocating for their rights; collaborating with organizations; providing resources, labor market access, and job opportunities.
Administrative and Financial Assistant at Rostov Social Homeless Center, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
February 1, 2012 - October 21, 2025
Provided administrative and financial support; contributed to program coordination and documentation; supported homeless individuals in accessing services.
Communications Specialist at Hotger Corp., Rostov-on-Don, Russia
July 1, 2016 - October 21, 2025
Coordinated communications and media relations; contributed to corporate messaging and branding.
Communications Manager at Hotger Corp., Rostov-on-Don, Russia
July 1, 2017 - October 21, 2025
Managed internal and external communications; developed messaging strategies and relationships with media.
Communications and Project Coordinator at EU Commission - Specially Unknown Oral History Project, Antwerp, Belgium
September 1, 2019 - October 21, 2025
Coordinated written and multimedia content; produced 12 video interviews; edited and published films with refugees; developed policy recommendations and educational materials for cultural institutions; disseminated project outcomes via conferences and city networks across the EU.
Cultural Activities Project Coordinator at Taamaat Project, Antwerp, Belgium
July 31, 2019 - October 21, 2025
Coordinated cultural activities for refugees; responsible for coordination of written and multimedia content; evaluated project results with director.
Emergency Support Coordinator at Cork Simon Community, Cork, Ireland
December 31, 2013 - October 21, 2025
Provided emergency support through advocacy and partnerships; coordinated volunteers; resolved resident conflicts; assisted with jobs and documentation; defended homeless people's rights locally.

Education

Master of Science at Institute of Development Policy (IOB), University of Antwerp
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2020
Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management with specialization in Strategic Communications & Marketing at University of Antwerp
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2019
Course: Diversity and Migration (EU Asylum and Migration Laws) at Antwerp Summer University, Europe
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Master's Degree in International Journalism at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2012

Qualifications

Workshop: Trauma-Informed Reporting on Migrants and Refugees
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Migration History Course
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017

Industry Experience

Non-Profit Organization, Media & Entertainment, Education, Government, Professional Services
    paper Social Media Manager

    Created videos and animations, and managed and supported the development of this account:

    https://www.instagram.com/humanrightswatch/

    - Maintaining and growing the presence in social media on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, VK and Telegram;
- Coordinating and host Twitter Spaces;
- Monitoring and distributing data reports on social media performance;
- Assisting with influencer and paid growth strategies to increase HRW’s audience;
- Pitching HRW stories to other successful Russian language social media accounts;
- Requesting translations for material outside of Russia and look for trends to see what resonates;
- Helping vet translations and improve the translation pipeline;
- Generating text, graphics, video, and other assets for social media, either directly or by working with the Digital Division’s graphic designer or contractors;
- Drafting and translating material specifically for social media that might appeal to a Russian-speaking audience, working with HRW’s Multimedia Division to translate photo essay captions and video subtitles in a timely manner, publishing to the HRW website, and sharing engaging content on HRW social media channels;
- Curating a dynamic Russian-language homepage and posting new articles to the site when necessary;
- Researching alternative platforms to explore possible new pathways to Russian-speaking audiences; 
- Assisting with advocacy tasks- Maintaining and growing the Russian language presence in social media on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, VK and Telegram; 
- Coordinating and host Twitter Spaces; - Monitoring and distributing data reports on social media performance; 
- Assisting with influencer and paid growth strategies to increase HRW’s audience; - Pitching HRW stories to other successful Russian language social media accounts;
    • Requesting translations for material outside of Russia and look for trends to see what resonates; - Helping vet translations and improve the translation pipeline;
    • Generating text, graphics, video, and other assets for social media, either directly or by working with the Digital Division’s graphic designer or contractors;
    • Drafting and translating material specifically for social media that might appeal to a Russian-speaking audience, working with HRW’s Multimedia Division to translate photo essay captions and video subtitles in a timely manner, publishing to the HRW website, and sharing engaging content on HRW social media channels; - Curating a dynamic Russian-language homepage and posting new articles to the site when necessary; - Researching alternative platforms to explore possible new pathways to Russian-speaking audiences; - Assisting with advocacy tasks