Introduction
Ukrainian Women’s Day” as a social and learning networking event
Dear Participant,
We warmly invite you to join Ukrainian Women’s Day, a one-day social and learning networking event created especially for Ukrainian women living abroad because of the war. The aim of the event is to encourage Ukrainian women to make positive changes in their currently insecure lives.
This event is part of the GoForward project (https://goforward.lpf.lt/) and of the educational-social model “Successful UA Women in CCS”, which supports Ukrainian women in strengthening their confidence, social participation, employability, and self-employment opportunities in the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS). Ukrainian Women’s Day will help participants move from inspiration and learning to concrete action, networking, cooperation, and visibility in their host communities.
Our goal is to help you:
– feel more included and supported in your local community,
– better understand your opportunities for employment and self-employment,
– connect with local communities, Employment Services, businesses, NGOs, and other relevant actors,
– present your ideas, talents, and future plans in a safe and encouraging environment,
– identify practical opportunities for cooperation and follow-up support,
– take positive steps in your current life situation through networking, dialogue, and collaboration.
Who are we?
The GoForward project (https://goforward.lpf.lt/) and its partnership aims to strengthen social and economic inclusion of Ukrainian women displaced by war, by providing innovative educational opportunities, tools, and models that support their integration into the labour market and society in their host countries. The project builds pathways for resilience, empowerment, and employability through creativity, culture, and self-employment opportunities in the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS).
Why should you take a part?
The event will give you:
– Support: a respectful and welcoming space where your experience, ideas, and aspirations are valued.
– Knowledge: better understanding of social inclusion, labour market opportunities, women’s rights in the EU, and self-employment possibilities in CCS.
– Confidence: encouragement to express your ideas, discuss your future plans, and explore new directions.
– Connections: opportunities to meet local stakeholders who may support your future development.
– Visibility: a chance to present your ideas developed during the GoForward educational process.
– Practical guidance: feedback and useful information from community actors, Employment Services and local businesses.
– Community: interaction with other women who share similar experiences and challenges.
What you will learn
During Ukrainian Women’s Day you will:
– better understand the situation of Ukrainian women in host countries and the challenges and opportunities related to social and professional integration.
– learn more about women’s human rights in the European Union, including equality, non-discrimination, and access to opportunities.
– explore how local communities, NGOs and public institutions can support social integration.
– better understand labour market opportunities in the country of temporary residence, especially in the Cultural and Creative Sectors.
– increase your awareness of self-employment as a possible pathway towards economic independence and work–life balance.
– understand the role that Employment Services and local businesses can play in supporting employment and entrepreneurship.
– gain practical insights into the first steps of starting a business, including registration, support mechanisms, mentoring, and administration.
– present and discuss your own business or project ideas.
– establish initial contacts with local actors who may support your further professional and social integration.
How the Workshop works
Ukrainian Women’s Day is organised as a one-day, facilitated, multi-structured networking activity, which includes the active involvement of:
– Ukrainian women,
– representatives of local communities,
– NGOs and community organisations,
– Employment Services,
– local businesses,
– and other relevant institutional stakeholders.
The event is built around two workshops, supported by learning materials that combine information, dialogue, reflection, practical exercises, idea presentation, networking activities, and feedback collection.
Ukrainian Women’s Day Agenda
Time | Activity |
09:00 – 09:15 | Opening of the event and introduction |
09:15 – 10:15 | Workshop 1 – Session 1: Ukrainian women’s situation in war conditions: expectations and challenges |
10:15 – 11:15 | Workshop 1 – Session 2: Ukrainian women’s human rights in the EU |
11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee break |
11:30 – 12:30 | Workshop 1 – Session 3: Role of local communities in supporting social integration |
12:30 – 12:45 | Workshop 1 – Reflection and conclusions |
12:45 – 13:15 | Lunch break |
13:15 – 14:00 | Workshop 2 – Session 1: UA women’s situation in the labour market in a country of their temporary residence with possibilities to start their business in CCS. |
14:00 – 15:30 | Workshop 2 – Session 2: The support of local businesses for UA women to recognise the opportunities and overcome challenges for self-employment in CCS |
15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee break |
15:45 – 17:30 | Workshop 2 – Session 3: Matching local businesses with UA women’s presented business ideas in CCS. |
17:30 – 17:45 | Workshop 2 – Feedback and Evaluation |
17:45 – 18:00 | Final conclusions, feedback and closing |
What happens during the workshops?
The workshops cover both the social and economic dimensions of integration and create a participatory space where Ukrainian women can interact with local communities, NGOs, Employment Services, and local businesses.
The aim of Workshop 1 is to discuss Ukrainian women nowadays situation and ways of social integration to society in the countries on their residence due to war conditions and how local communities could help. It focuses on social inclusion, addressing the situation of Ukrainian women in war conditions, women’s rights in the EU, and the role of local communities in supporting integration.
The aim of Workshop 2 is to encourage women to start their self-employment in CCS on the basis of their developed ideas with the help from the local businesses. It builds on this and focuses on labour market integration, self-employment in the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS), support from local businesses, and the presentation of ideas developed in the e-Studio.
The activities include guided discussions, case studies, small-group work, practical exchanges, idea presentations, feedback from local stakeholders, networking, and the identification of recommendations and possible follow-up cooperation. Together, the workshops help participants better understand their rights, challenges, opportunities, and realistic pathways towards social inclusion, employment, and self-employment.
Networking as a key element of the Day
One of the most important features of Ukrainian Women’s Day is its strong networking dimension.
This event is designed not only to provide information, but also to create a structured framework for interaction and cooperation between Ukrainian women and local stakeholders. Networking takes place throughout the day through discussions, presentations, direct exchanges, and dedicated matching activities.
Why is this event important?
Ukrainian Women’s Day is important because it connects learning with action.
After going through the motivational and learning stages of the GoForward model, participants need a space where they can test ideas, meet people, receive encouragement, and identify practical opportunities in the real environment of their host country. This event provides that space.
It supports women in making positive steps in an uncertain life context by:
– reducing isolation,
– strengthening self-confidence,
– increasing knowledge of rights and opportunities,
– encouraging active participation,
– creating links with local communities and labour market actors,
– opening realistic pathways towards integration, employment, and self-employment.
At the same time, it helps local communities and local businesses better understand the needs, experiences, capacities and potential of Ukrainian women, making inclusion a more shared and cooperative process.
Your Next Steps
Ukrainian Women’s Day is the third step in the educational-social model “Successful UA Women in CCS.” It is the point where learning, confidence-building, and idea development are connected to practical interaction with the outside world.
After taking part in this event, you may choose to:
– continue developing your business or project idea,
– contact local businesses or Employment Services,
– seek mentoring or support,
– strengthen your participation in the local community,
– follow up on the connections made during the event,
– use the feedback received to shape your future pathway.
The event also includes a feedback and evaluation moment, where participants can reflect on what they learned, what was most useful, and what their next step could be. In this way, Ukrainian Women’s Day is both a meaningful learning experience and a starting point for continued engagement.
Explore our methodology
The GoForward educational-social model “Successful UA Women in CCS” includes:
Motivational Workshop “Innovative Solutions in CCS for Ukrainian Women”
This workshop is the first step of the model. It helps participants discover successful stories, reflect on opportunities in CCS, and strengthen their motivation and confidence.
e-Studio “Women’s Self-Employment in CCS – How to Be Successful”
This is the learning step of the model. It provides practical educational content and helps participants develop entrepreneurial, creative and digital competences, as well as their own ideas for self-employment.
Ukrainian Women’s Day
This is the social and learning networking step of the model. It helps participants move from learning to real interaction, cooperation and visibility. It creates opportunities for dialogue with local communities, Employment Services and businesses, while also supporting the presentation of ideas, practical networking, and the identification of future opportunities for inclusion, employment and self-employment.
We are glad to welcome you
By joining Ukrainian Women’s Day, you are not only participating in an event, you are taking part in a meaningful process that values your experience, your creativity, your strengths, and your future.
We look forward to meeting you, learning with you, and building new opportunities together.