Problem addressed

Terre des hommes conducted a comprehensive needs assessment to inform the project design, aligning the findings with existing research on refugee integration. The assessment identified the following key challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees:

1. Language and communication barriers: Limited proficiency in the local language significantly hinders access to education and employment opportunities.

2. Recognition of qualifications: Difficulties in validating Ukrainian qualifications and navigating bureaucratic procedures in both countries restrict access to the labor market.

3. Cultural adaptation: Adjusting to a new cultural and social system is challenging, particularly for young refugees who must learn and conform to local norms and practices.

4. Discrimination and prejudice: Instances of bias and social exclusion have been increasing since mid-2023, negatively affecting refugees’ morale and limiting access to employment and public services.

5. Family responsibilities: Caregiving obligations, especially for mothers, create additional barriers to entering the workforce when childcare options are limited.

Innovative solution

The innovation in this project lies in transforming existing Resilience Innovation Facilities (RIFs) from purely digital skills hubs into integrated service centers for social inclusion of refugees, with a multi-dimensional approach that links education, psychosocial support, and labor market access. By combining language learning, intercultural and psychosocial support, guidance on navigating bureaucratic systems, and labor market facilitation, the project goes beyond traditional single-focus interventions. It also includes access to preschool activities for children, enabling caregivers, particularly mothers, to engage in training or employment. This multi-dimensional methodology addresses the interconnected barriers refugees face, ranging from skills gaps and cultural adaptation to discrimination and family responsibilities, in a single, coordinated framework.

The project builds upon the successful piloting of the Resilience Innovation Facility (RIFs) approach by Terre des homme Lausanne globally, and aims to replicate and strengthen its reach and impact from learning and experiences of other partners and contexts in Romania and Hungary. The RIF approach builds upon the work of Tdh in setting up FabLabs in humanitarian contexts, including in Ukraine, Greece, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Kenya, targeting refugees and other disadvantaged groups, including with youth from the detention centre in Braila, Romania, a project supported through the European JUST programme.  Tdh piloted the RIF in Gyor Hungary from 2021 with children and youth from disadvantaged communities. Over 600 children accessed the Innovative space and over 75% of them felt empowered and self confident towards their future by attending over 200 workshops provided. The piloting of the RIF in Gyor, Hungary by Tdh showed that 85% of children and youth are reporting thinking that they can do most things if they try thanks to the activities they took part to. 78% are reporting thinking now that there are a lot of things that they do well and 82% are reporting improved knowledge on their skills, strengths and what is challenging to them. The project successfully achieved its goals of enhancing the self-confidence, social inclusion, and connectedness of participating children and youth, providing a constructive way for them to spend their free time, and promoting a sense of inclusion and empowerment. Children and youth benefited from an innovative environment for skill-building and personal growth. Similar trends were experienced from the RIFs set up in Romania. 

Key results and benefits

The project is expected to generate significant results and benefits for both Ukrainian refugees and host communities in Budapest and Brașov. Participants, including youth and adults, will experience enhanced social inclusion, resilience, and self-confidence through engagement in educational, psychosocial, and intercultural activities, fostering a stronger sense of belonging. Refugees will also improve their language proficiency, vocational skills, and digital competencies, increasing employability and their ability to navigate local systems effectively. Access to employment and essential services will be facilitated through guidance on labor market integration, recognition of qualifications, and bureaucratic procedures, reducing barriers to economic and social participation. Additionally, the provision of preschool activities and childcare support will enable caregivers, particularly mothers, to engage in training or enter the workforce, strengthening family support and overall community integration. By combining these elements, the project promotes a holistic, sustainable model of inclusion, empowerment, and social cohesion that benefits both refugees and the wider local population.

Potential for mainstreaming

The project demonstrates strong potential for mainstreaming by offering a scalable and replicable model for the social inclusion of refugees that integrates education, psychosocial support, and labor market facilitation. By extending the Resilience Innovation Facilities approach to include both youth and adults and embedding participatory mechanisms with local communities, the project creates a framework that can be adapted by other municipalities or organizations across Europe. 



The tools and methodologies developed, such as the digital skills building curriculum, the protection assistance guidebook or the guide for employment seeking can be integrated into existing social services and education systems, ensuring continuity beyond the project’s lifespan. Moreover, the engagement of local stakeholders, public authorities, and community actors provides a platform for knowledge transfer and long-term collaboration, allowing successful practices to be adopted as standard approaches for refugee inclusion at regional and national levels.