Autore: emwu

The EMWU project has developed policy recommendations aimed at improving the participation of Ukrainian migrant women in vocational education and training, employment, entrepreneurship and community life. The recommendations translate the evidence collected through the Italian needs-assessment survey into proposals for public authorities, VET providers, employment services, recognition bodies and civil-society organisations.

The survey involved 15 Ukrainian migrant women living in Italy. Its results reveal substantial educational and professional resources: most respondents had completed secondary or vocational education, and all reported previous work experience, particularly in healthcare, caregiving, personal services, retail and hospitality. Nevertheless, these competences were not always visible or formally recognised within the host-country system.

Language difficulties represented the most widespread barrier, identified by all participants. Insufficient support services, limited access to reliable information and difficulties combining training with employment and family responsibilities were also frequently reported. Furthermore, 86.7% of respondents had never requested recognition of their previously acquired competences, indicating a significant gap between existing experience and access to formal qualifications or suitable employment.

The first policy priority is therefore to make vocational pathways linguistically and organisationally accessible. Occupational language learning should be integrated into VET courses rather than treated exclusively as a preliminary requirement. Training providers should adopt plain-language communication, multilingual information, flexible timetables, modular courses and blended learning opportunities. These measures are particularly important for women with care responsibilities, limited income, disabilities or restricted digital access.

A second recommendation concerns the recognition and validation of prior learning. Migrant women should receive accessible information about recognition procedures, documentation requirements, responsible institutions and possible financial support. Competence portfolios, structured interviews and practical demonstrations can help identify formal, non-formal and informal learning. Recognition should be connected to personalised training plans so that participants are not required to repeat competences they have already acquired.

Mentoring should become a structured component of inclusion policies. Survey participants requested psychological and motivational support, information about rights, language assistance, career guidance and professional networking. A coordinated mentoring model can connect each woman with VET providers, employment services, employers, recognition authorities and qualified legal, social or psychological services. Mentors should receive training in intercultural communication, gender sensitivity, safeguarding and trauma-aware practice.

The recommendations also call for stronger cooperation among institutions. Fragmented services can require migrant women to navigate multiple organisations without a clear pathway. Local referral protocols, shared information points and multidisciplinary networks would facilitate continuity between language learning, competence assessment, VET participation, employment guidance and social support.

Entrepreneurship should be supported as one possible pathway rather than presented as the only response to labour-market barriers. Participants expressed particular interest in healthcare, personal services, hospitality and tourism. Policies should therefore facilitate access to business guidance, regulatory information, financial literacy, digital marketing, professional networks and migrant women entrepreneurs who can act as role models.

Finally, Ukrainian migrant women must participate directly in the design, implementation and evaluation of the measures affecting them. Their involvement should extend beyond consultation and include co-design workshops, advisory groups and regular feedback mechanisms. Policy effectiveness should be assessed through indicators such as training access and completion, language progression, competence recognition, employment quality, digital autonomy, professional networking and self-efficacy.

The EMWU policy recommendations promote a transition from fragmented assistance to coordinated empowerment. Their central message is clear: Ukrainian migrant women already possess knowledge, experience and aspirations. Effective policies must remove the barriers preventing these resources from becoming recognised competences, equitable opportunities and sustainable participation in European society.

The EMWU – Empower Migrant Ukrainian Women project presents its Handbook, a practical educational resource developed to support Ukrainian migrant women in accessing vocational education, recognising their competences and building sustainable pathways towards employment, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.

The Handbook responds directly to the needs identified through the EMWU survey conducted in Italy. The findings show that Ukrainian migrant women possess substantial educational and professional experience, particularly in healthcare, caregiving, personal services, retail and hospitality. Nevertheless, this experience is not always recognised or transferred effectively into the Italian education and labour-market systems.

Language difficulties were identified by all survey participants as a barrier to vocational education and training. Other significant challenges included insufficient information, limited support services, difficulties reconciling training with employment and family responsibilities, non-recognition of qualifications and experiences of discrimination. Particularly relevant is the finding that 86.7% of respondents had never requested formal recognition of their previously acquired competences.

The EMWU Handbook translates this evidence into practical guidance for migrant women, mentors, VET educators, career counsellors and organisations working in the field of inclusion. It promotes an approach based on existing capabilities rather than perceived deficits, recognising migrant women as holders of knowledge, professional experience, cultural resources and transferable competences.

The resource addresses essential areas such as competence identification, individual learning planning, vocational orientation, host-country language development, digital literacy, soft skills, entrepreneurship and access to recognition procedures. It also highlights the importance of psychological and motivational support, information about rights and regulations, professional networking and cooperation with local services.

Mentoring constitutes a central element of the proposed methodology. Through structured individual and group activities, mentors can help participants identify objectives, document previous experience, explore training opportunities and develop realistic action plans. A culturally responsive and trauma-aware approach contributes to creating relationships based on trust, dignity, informed choice and respect for personal boundaries.

The Handbook also supports educators in designing accessible learning environments. Plain language, flexible schedules, blended learning, practical exercises and personalised guidance can reduce barriers for women with limited linguistic competence, care responsibilities, low income, disabilities or restricted digital access. Referral pathways to qualified employment, legal, social and psychological services are equally important.

Entrepreneurship is explored as one possible route to economic participation, especially in healthcare, personal services, hospitality and tourism—the sectors most frequently identified by survey respondents. The Handbook encourages connections with migrant women entrepreneurs, local business networks and specialised advisory services, while recognising that self-employment should remain a voluntary and properly supported choice.

By transforming research findings into adaptable tools and methodologies, the EMWU Handbook strengthens the capacity of educators and organisations to provide coordinated, inclusive and learner-centred support. Its ultimate purpose is to help migrant women convert previous experience into visible competences, competences into learning opportunities, and learning opportunities into greater autonomy and participation in their host communities.

The EMWU – Empower Migrant Ukrainian Women project is transforming the findings of its Italian needs-assessment survey into practical educational action through a workshop dedicated to vocational learning, mentoring and socioeconomic inclusion.

The survey involved 15 Ukrainian migrant women living in Italy and explored their educational backgrounds, professional experience, access to vocational education and training, competence-development priorities and expectations regarding mentoring. The results reveal a group with considerable experience and strong motivation, but also facing interconnected barriers that can limit participation in education and employment.

Language emerged as the principal obstacle, reported by all respondents. Participants also identified insufficient support services, limited access to reliable information and difficulties combining training with employment or family responsibilities. Although most women had completed secondary education or vocational training and all had previous work experience, 86.7% had never requested formal recognition of competences acquired in Ukraine or through previous employment.

The EMWU workshop responds directly to these findings. Its participatory activities help women identify transferable competences, reflect on professional aspirations and explore accessible training, employment and entrepreneurial pathways. Particular attention is given to host-country language learning, digital literacy, communication, problem-solving, career planning and knowledge of rights and services.

Mentoring represents a central component of this approach. Survey participants requested not only professional guidance but also motivational support, language assistance, information about regulations and opportunities to build professional networks. The workshop therefore promotes a holistic model in which migrant women are recognised as active participants with existing knowledge, experience and decision-making capacity.

Through competence-mapping exercises, peer exchange and facilitated discussion, participants can make visible abilities that may remain undocumented or undervalued. Educators and mentors are encouraged to adopt inclusive, trauma-aware and gender-sensitive practices while maintaining clear links with qualified employment, legal, psychological and training services.

The workshop also addresses entrepreneurship, particularly in healthcare, personal services, hospitality and tourism—the sectors most frequently identified by respondents. Contact with migrant women entrepreneurs and local professional networks can strengthen self-efficacy and make viable business pathways more visible. At the same time, entrepreneurship is presented as one possible option rather than an alternative to fair access to stable employment.

By connecting research evidence with personalised support, EMWU contributes to more accessible and responsive VET systems. Its objective is not merely to help women adapt to existing structures, but also to encourage training providers and local stakeholders to remove linguistic, informational and organisational barriers.

The workshop represents an important step towards converting prior experience into recognised competences, competences into opportunities, and opportunities into sustainable participation in the social and economic life of the host community.

July 2026

Experiencing a traditional Polish dinner in Białystok offers a delightful immersion into the rich culinary heritage of Poland. The meal typically begins with a comforting bowl of żurek, a sour rye soup enriched with sausage and hard-boiled eggs, renowned for its distinctive tangy flavor. ​Visit Poland

For the main course, kotlet schabowy is a popular choice. This breaded pork cutlet, reminiscent of a schnitzel, is usually served alongside mizeria, a refreshing cucumber salad mixed with sour cream and dill, and a helping of creamy mashed potatoes. ​pepehousing.comReddit

Another regional specialty to savor is kartacze—hearty potato dumplings filled with seasoned minced meat, reflecting the hearty culinary traditions of the Podlaskie region. ​travelsport24.com

To complete the meal, a slice of sernik, a traditional Polish cheesecake, provides a sweet and satisfying conclusion.

Nestled near Knyszyn, the Wioska Mnicha offers a captivating journey into Poland’s rich past. This unique settlement is home to the Muzeum Siekier, the country’s largest axe museum, boasting a collection of over 2,000 axes from around the world, including specimens from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and beyond. ​Wioska Mnicha+1Log in or sign up to view+1

Visitors can explore two floors of meticulously arranged exhibits, showcasing axes that span various eras and cultures. The museum’s dedication to preserving and presenting these tools provides a tangible link to the craftsmanship and martial traditions of bygone times. ​

Beyond the museum, Wioska Mnicha offers workshops in traditional woodworking and blacksmithing, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the artisanal skills that shaped historical Poland. The village’s proximity to Knyszyn, where King Sigismund Augustus passed away in 1572, further enriches the historical tapestry of the visit.

On April 1–2, 2025, the city of Białystok, Poland, hosted the official kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ project titled Empowering Migrant Ukrainian Women: Pathways to Integration through Entrepreneurship and Sustainability. The initiative, coordinated by FPiSi and supported by partners from across Europe, aims to foster the social and economic inclusion of Ukrainian women who have migrated due to conflict, displacement, or economic instability, with a special focus on entrepreneurship, urban regeneration, and environmental responsibility.

The meeting marked the beginning of a collaborative journey to develop tools, training modules, and case studies that will support Ukrainian women in building sustainable livelihoods and taking active roles in their new communities. Participants discussed the project’s core objectives: improving access to skills development, promoting social cohesion, and encouraging green entrepreneurship that aligns with the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Discussions in Białystok focused on establishing a common framework for identifying needs and good practices in different partner countries, while also emphasizing the unique challenges faced by Ukrainian migrant women—including legal uncertainty, gendered barriers to the labor market, and cultural adaptation. The consortium committed to designing tailored educational resources that address these challenges while promoting empowerment, agency, and sustainability.

A visit to local organizations supporting refugees and women entrepreneurs offered practical insights into the Białystok context, setting the tone for a project that bridges policy, grassroots engagement, and transnational solidarity.

This meeting laid the foundation for the creation of inclusive, replicable models of support for migrant women—turning displacement into opportunity through knowledge, community, and environmental consciousness.