Promoting opportunities, spaces, and structured tools to guide Ukrainian refugees living in Poland, Slovakia and Romania to actively participate in social and professional life, while taking care of their mental health
Context
The participation processes of Ukrainian refugees at the European level represent complex challenges that require diverse opportunities, spaces, and tools to promote personal and professional development, as well as emotional and psychological support. These difficulties are exacerbated when Ukrainian refugeɜes do not have access to sustainable employment pathways or educational opportunities, which slows down their socio-economic participation. Many Ukrainian refugees, particularly in local contexts such as Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, have not had the chance to acquire or strengthen the soft skills necessary to enter the labor market in a new context, exposing them to a high risk of social exclusion.
Local organizations and public, private, and academic actors play a crucial role in providing psychological support, training, and opportunities for the development or enhancement of skills and tools, thereby fostering social and professional inclusion. Active participation in local initiatives and the acquisition of soft skills are essential tools to promote the autonomy of refugees and to strengthen their sense of community.
The creation or strengthening of collaborative, multidisciplinary, and multi-stakeholder ecosystems (including public, private, academic, and civil society sectors), as well as opportunities for exchange between refugeees and local citizens, contribute to improving financial resilience and fostering long-term employment pathways, while building social ties that support more active participation in the local area.
Objectives
- Strengthen the knowledge and skills of socio-educational workers in Slovakia, Romania, and Poland on financial resilience, psychological support, and sustainable employment.
- Create spaces for support and continuous monitoring for workers, providing tools to effectively manage the professional and social development pathways of Ukrainian refugees.
- Develop and strengthen soft skills among Ukrainian refugees living in Romania, Slovakia, and Poland through targeted training on financial management, sustainable employment, and general job-related skills, to improve access to the labor market.
- Promote collaboration among public, private, academic, and civil society organizations, both locally and internationally, to replicate socio-economic development and empowerment models tailored to Ukrainian refugees.
Activities
- Training opportunities for socio-educational staff and human resources personnel on sustainable employment and financial resilience for Ukrainian refugees.
- Training opportunities for Ukrainian refugees on topics related to sustainable employment and financial resilience.
- Creation of groups and spaces for sharing and discussion on thematic areas related to the local participation of Ukrainian refugees.
- Transnational workshops for learning and exchanging best practices.
Resources
- Training materials and toolkit for Employment sustainability coaches
- Training materials and toolkit for financial resilience – both for trainers and tools for Ukrainian Refugees self education
- Train the trainers sessions for employment sustainability and financial resilience
- Model of Discussion Clubs;
- Model for Mapping local initiatives
- Report from Pilot activites in 3 countries with good practices portfolio
- A training of trainers’ manual
- Self – educational materials and tools for mental health and well-being assurance
- Booklet for employers
- Report from Pilot activites in 3 countries with good practices portfolio
- Impact strategy for knowledge exchange and continuous learning among key stakeholders
Impact
- At least 90 Ukrainian refugees trained to actively and healthily participate in social, financial, and professional life in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania.
- 12 socio-educational workers trained to support Ukrainian refugees living in Slovakia, Romania, and Poland by strengthening their knowledge and skills related to the financial and professional sectors.
- 18 Human Resources representatives made aware and prepared to support structured career development pathways for Ukrainian refugees.
Partners
- Fundacja Innowacja i Wiedza (Poland, coordinator)
- Clovek V Ohrozeni (Slovakia)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- HEKS/EPER Switzerland (Romania)
