Two years on since the Russian military aggression on Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians are getting support to restart their lives in EU countries beyond the immediate border. 

In Italy, the PUOI project is helping vulnerable migrants, including displaced people from Ukraine, to access the labour market through career guidance, job placement and traineeships. Thanks to funding from the ESF, the project offers pathways tailored to their specific needs, considering the often-traumatic experiences that led them to leave their country.

Once an English teacher in Ukraine, Olena Myrhorodska faced immense challenges upon arriving with her son. The PUOI project helped her to find an internship and later secure a position as a teacher. ‘The project taught me to break the barriers,’ she says, highlighting her journey towards a new life in Italy​​. ‘At first, I was afraid of everything and couldn't imagine finding work outside Naples or without fluently speaking Italian. This experience changed that.’

A psychotherapist from Kyiv, Yuliia Frolova's life was upended by the war. The PUOI project helped her find a traineeship in Siracusa, and she is now working towards legalising her title to practise her profession in Italy. ‘The day I joined Irene's clinic was magical! I'm still finding my path, but now everything makes sense again.’

In search of safety and a new beginning, Amieliia Kinzerska’s journey from Kyiv for Rome led her to an internship at the Galleria Borghese, where she became a tour guide for Ukrainian visitors. ‘It was incredibly meaningful to connect with people from my homeland and build new relationships in Italy’, she recounts, reflecting on her experience.

An engineering graduate, Iryna Kuzminetska found new beginnings in Italy's culinary world. Working in a restaurant, she appreciates the opportunity PUOI provided. ‘The war changed everything. Here, everything is different, and I aspire to open a restaurant or start a business in a few years.’​​

These stories show the impact of the ESF in helping people to thrive in new environments. The courage and adaptation of these women highlight the importance of initiatives like PUOI in fostering a sense of belonging and purpose among those whose life has been threatened by a military invasion. 

Source: Focus 'The emergency in Ukraine and the PUOI project'