The “Refugee Skilling and Support” project, in partnership with YMCAs in Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, and local YMCs in Ukraine, powered by Accenture Foundation, has made a significant impact by addressing the immediate needs of communities affected by the war in Ukraine.
By focusing on digital competencies, employability skills, legal advice, mental health support, and youth work, we are providing a comprehensive range of services to empower individuals and families in Ukraine and surrounding countries.
Considering the challenges, solutions and the key insights that characterised the first phase of the project, the impact can be observed through the key achievements:
- reaching directly to almost 15,000 people who needed access to support systems;
- running more than 4,000 activities in 4 European countries (including 5 different cities/regions in Ukraine);
- creating and ensuring the functionality of 8 eDU Hubs and 4 Mobile Hubs; implementing a regional scale emergency response that creates the basis for building an integration-based approach in four countries;
- expanding the organisational capacity of working with other target groups (adults);
- developing partnerships and synergies with local and national partners (e.g., employment agencies, other NGOs, companies);
- engaging more than half of million people through social media;
- creating a handbook on how to manage an eDU Hub (including with recommendations for policies/practices) and a handbook on how to set a Mobile Hub, both tools being addressed to a wider audience.
All these efforts lead to success stories such as Pavel’s who after being employed by a local company in Romania shared that: “You are great and you are doing a really good thing, thank you very much for helping me with job searching, I feel very lucky that I have met you.” or Yulia who moved from Kharkiv to Zdolbuniv (Ukraine) and affirmed that: “Local acquaintances told me about the YMCA Zdolbuniv, and it became a real salvation for us”.
The success of our program is materialised within the powerful stories of the growth and development, experiences and transformational journey at the eDU Hubs and Mobile Youth Centres. The following article goes beyond initiatives and actions, and focuses on people, presenting their success stories during unprecedented times.
Natalia: student, artist, and future entrepreneur, joined the financial literacy and media consultations at the eDU Hub in Boyarka, Ukraine. Guided by the incredible team of experts she completed the course, opening up her eco-bag business locally. The hub offered her the opportunity to turn her passion and art into a career path, encouraging her to pursue her dreams.
Oksana Sliepova, Psychologist, has been working at the eDU Hub in Boyarka (UA) together with her husband Evgen Sliepov, who was delivering massage therapy sessions. Together, they were focusing on physical and mental health well-being. Her husband has never joined the sessions before, and the hub represented a great opportunity for him to also join the program led by Oksana. This helped him immensely in the stressful process of obtaining his PhD in Surgery and navigating the uncertainty brought about by the war in Ukraine. Evgen received the position of Medical Director at the Kyiv Regional Children’s Hospital, which is a testimony of the importance of mental health in the upskilling journey for him – and the incredible support received at the YMCA Hub.
Marta and Maria who are living now in Anenii Noi – Moldova. They were practising makeup and manicure in Nikolaev region of Ukraine. Thanks to our intervention, and cooperation with Anenii Noi district administration and Employment Agency, they are employed in a local beauty centre.
Viktoria, came to Moldova from Odesa Region and she was one of the participants of our workshops on employment. Shortly after the session, she applied and got a job as a fitness trainer in Causeni district.
Antonina, a IDP woman who was very stressed after facing hard shelling of her city in the East of Ukraine, after attending a training course at the eDU hub in Boyarka delivered by a very experienced and encouraging teacher (degree in psychology), showed herself to be so much experienced and result oriented. Shortly after the training she got a job proposal from the local authorities. She is very much grateful for having an opportunity to attend such a professional course which probably changed her life for the better.
Elizaveta, a 17 y.o. resident of Dnepropetrovsk, relocated to Slovakia with her mother and two younger sisters. She faced many challenges, including a lack of knowledge of the Slovak language and uncertainty about how to find a space for communication. The project provided support and resources for Elizaveta, allowing her to attend “Let´s talk together” classes and psychological classes for teenagers. She also became a volunteer at an art group with children, which helped her improve her language skills and gain confidence. Now she speaks fluent Slovak and has entered medical school in Liptovsky Mikulas. Her journey shows that with the right support, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
Victoria – 24 y.o.“It was hard to find a job in our small town Zdolbuniv… I had a little experience in social media, and I worked before as a store manager.With the help of the project, I took an SMM course, improved my skills in Canva, graphic design, and learnt to work in a team. With the help of new acquaintances and connections, and the experience I gained, I found a job – I run several pages on social media and can earn money. YMCA is a unique organisation that responds to the actual needs of people and helps everyone develop themselves in a warm atmosphere.”
Liudmila, after joining the YMCA employment support program, a program that helped her become part of the community and live a sustainable life here Baia Mare, Romania
YMCA Romania, as part of the “Refugee Skilling and Support” project, is playing a crucial role in promoting integration and employment opportunities. Recognized as one of the first organizations in the country to offer Government Certification for the Romanian language, they are running courses specifically designed for Ukrainians in collaboration with the Regional National Agency for Employment.
To further facilitate integration, the YMCA team has taken the initiative to organize Job Café events. These events serve as a platform for members of the Ukrainian community, Romanian participants, partners, companies, and friends of the YMCA to come together, socialize, and explore employment possibilities. Through their efforts, YMCA Romania is not only imparting valuable language skills but also creating valuable networks that contribute to the successful integration and employment of refugees.
At the YMCA Bratislava office, Ukrainian refugees are finding joy and a sense of accomplishment as they complete crucial Slovak language classes, marking a significant milestone in their integration programs. YMCA Bratislava has been instrumental in empowering these individuals, providing them with the necessary tools to navigate the linguistic and cultural aspects of their new home.
By fostering a supportive learning environment, the YMCA enables Ukrainian refugees to enhance their language skills, fostering greater integration and opening doors to various opportunities. The completion of these language classes not only signifies linguistic achievement but also represents a profound step forward in their journey towards successful integration and belonging in Slovak society.
