Our “Refugee Skilling and Support” project (Phase II), funded by Accenture Foundation, and in partnership with YMCAs in Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, and 5 local YMCs in Ukraine is addressing an immediate need for digital competencies, employability-skills building, legal advice, mental health support and youth work, serving beneficiaries from the communities affected by the war.
During this Phase, the Project transitioned from emergency response to integration facilities between June 2023 and May 2024.
For 12 months, the local implementation teams in Lutsk, Zdolbuniv, Boyarka, Kremenchuk and Zaporijia (Ukraine), as well as YMCAs from the bordering countries (Republic of Moldova, Romania and Slovakia), have created opportunities to drive social change in the local communities, built resilience, advanced cultural understanding, and represented reliable service providers on skilling and mental health.
After 12 months of implementation, the project exceeded expectations by reaching 27,982 people across four European countries—277% of the original target. Of these, 14,245 individuals experienced significant improvements in their lives, surpassing the target by 68%. Moreover, 2,458 participants underwent profound life transformations, achieving 200% of the initial goal.
From the total number of people reached (27,982), 18,775 are in Ukraine (5,107 being Internally Displaced People – IDPs), 3,602 Ukrainian refugees in Romania, 2,332 in Slovakia and 3,273 in Moldova.
Five types of activities reached the beneficiaries:
- 12,199 people were connected through education (skilling, employment and entrepreneurship),
- 6,244 were reached through mental health support,
- 5047 were connected through activities focused on digital skills,
- 4,366 benefited from social support and integration activities, and
- 126 were connected through the partnerships developed.
Most of the beneficiaries who improved their lives (14,245) through to project have done so by:
- Skilling* (42%),
- Improving Mindsets* (34%),
- Improved Career Management* (16%),
- Obtained Work Experience* (8%).
*These metrics are in accordance with Skills to Succeed Accenture’s flagship model.
Out of the 2,458 people transformed by the project, 40.9% increased career resilience, while others 32.8% got employment opportunities, 12.4% reentered formal education, 9.2% became self-employed, and 4.8% managed to open a business.
During this year of implementation, the Hubs delivered 5,341 activities, as follows:
- 1,994 Skilling and Employment;
- 2,746 Mental Health;
- 601 Child Care and social support.
In terms of social media reach, the project targeted the newsfeed of more than one million people worldwide, pictures and videos from the activities being vividly shared.
In some regions of Ukraine, YMCA remained the only organisation that continues to provide support to IDPs (Boyarka and Zaporizhzhia), while in others (Zdolbuniv, Lutsk) it is one of the few spaces in the town where educational services are provided free of charge, and IT equipment is available at no costs for the public.
Additionally, the hubs in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia began to work together with public authorities to deliver courses and articles in the press to showcase their continuous support for the integration of refugees and IDPs in the local communities. Learn more
The impact of the activities over one year has led to increased employment opportunities, improved quality of life, greater societal care, enhanced self-confidence and resilience, better inclusion, partnerships, digital skills, mental health improvements, and stronger connections between beneficiaries and stakeholders, as highlighted in the Evaluation Workshop in Bratislava (April 2024).
A key insight from the Evaluation Workshop held in Bratislava (April 2024) was that the project significantly developed the organisations by providing resources for staff, expanding volunteer involvement, establishing both physical and digital infrastructure, enabling coordinated community interventions, and ensuring continuous tracking through monitoring tools.
Beginning in June 2024, the Project has entered its third phase (running through December 2024). This phase is designed to address the capacity-building needs identified during the workshop, equipping YMCAs with the necessary tools and resources to further enhance their impact within their communities.
Check out here a few stories of individuals who have exhibited remarkable tenacity, conquered their fears, and navigated the tumultuous waters of war and displacement to find hope even in the darkest of times.
Photo album with the highlight of this Phase of the Project.
