Building Opportunities Together for Ukrainian Women Across Europe

After 18 months of cooperation, the SHE-UNET project is reaching an important milestone – bringing together organisations, Empowerment Hubs, trainers, leaders and Ukrainian women from Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy to strengthen inclusion, participation and opportunities for Ukrainian women in Europe.

The SHE-UNET Ukrainian Women’s Empowerment and Social Hub Network is a European Social Fund initiative created in response to the societal consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The project has worked to strengthen the capacity of local Empowerment Hubs and develop inclusive and sustainable pathways towards integration, participation and employment for Ukrainian refugee women.

Over the course of the project, partners from Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy worked together to exchange knowledge, develop new approaches and strengthen organisations supporting Ukrainian women. The project focused not only on individual empowerment, but also on strengthening the organisations and networks that provide support at local and European level.

From Knowledge to Empowerment

A central part of SHE-UNET has been the development and use of the Capacity Enhancement Framework (CEF) and the Empowerment Skills Framework (ESF). These approaches provide practical tools and methods for organisations, Empowerment Hubs and professionals working with Ukrainian women.

Through leadership development, training activities, webinars and local empowerment sessions, participants had opportunities to develop new skills, reflect on their strengths, exchange experiences and build confidence.

The project also created training materials, toolkits and e-learning resources, made available in English, Dutch, Swedish, Italian and Ukrainian, helping ensure that the knowledge developed through the project can continue to be accessed beyond its official duration.

People Behind the Numbers

During the project, more than 180 Ukrainian women took part in empowerment activities across Europe.15 Hub Leaders completed the Capacity Enhancement Framework, while 15 trainers completed the Train-the-Trainer programme. In total, more than 300 people were engaged in the project.

Behind every number, however, is a person, a story and an individual journey. For many participants, the training was about much more than gaining new knowledge. It was about finding a safe space to speak openly, meeting other women, sharing experiences, discovering personal strengths and gaining the confidence to take new steps in life.

One SHE-UNET Hub Leader described the experience:

“It has been a privilege to facilitate this incredible group of Ukrainian women. Watching strangers become a community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of this journey.”

The experience of participants also reflected the importance of community, support and connection. Meeting other Ukrainian women, communicating openly, participating in group exercises and feeling heard and respected became important parts of the journey. One participant described how her journey began with a first meeting with someone she did not know. Through the empowerment process, she gradually built her confidence and discovered her own strength, courage and belief in her possibilities.

Stronger Organisations, Stronger Communities

SHE-UNET has also created value at an organisational and community level. Hub Leaders and trainers gained new knowledge, methods and perspectives that can strengthen their future work with women and local communities. The project encouraged cooperation between municipalities, Empowerment Hubs, NGOs, training providers and other stakeholders working with integration and labour-market participation.

The partnership itself has also been an important achievement. Cooperation between organisations in Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy created opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from different national contexts and develop approaches that can be adapted and shared across Europe.

Building a Legacy Beyond the Project

Although the project is reaching its formal milestone, its work does not end here. The relationships created knowledge shared, training materials developed and networks established through SHE-UNET provide a foundation for continued cooperation and future initiatives.

The project resources and frameworks remain available to support Empowerment Hubs, municipalities, NGOs and adult education organisations working with Ukrainian women and integration.

The final Local Multiplier Events in Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy have provided an opportunity to bring together participants, trainers, Hub Leaders and stakeholders to reflect on the journey and share the results.

SHE-UNET has shown that empowerment is not only about creating opportunities for individuals. It is also about building stronger relationships, stronger organisations and more inclusive communities.

As the project comes to an end, one message remains at its heart together, we have built opportunities, together we have strengthened connections and together, we have shown what empowerment can make possible.