Problem addressed

The addressed problem revolves around the persistent issue of unemployment among foreign-born women, which has significant individual and societal consequences. Foreign-born women encounter specific barriers hindering their entry into the labor market, as well as opportunities to secure fair wages and safe working conditions. This issue is exacerbated by challenges in social and economic integration, which take longer for foreign-born women compared to men. Despite efforts by various agencies, there remains a gap between the demands of the labor market and the educational and professional backgrounds of foreign-born women. Structural, organizational, and individual factors, including gender, age, migration status, education, and previous work experience, compound the difficulty of successful integration processes. Addressing this multifaceted problem requires a comprehensive approach, focusing on soft skills, education, networking, and combating discrimination to facilitate foreign-born women's entry into the workforce.

Innovative solution

We propose a solution that involves integrating multiple interventions to enhance outcomes for foreign-born women. The project combines mentorship during vocational training with ongoing collaboration with the target audience. The project will also arrange women's gatherings where all participants and mentors are invited, as a way to create networking opportunities. Foreign-born women enrolled in three selected vocational training programs in Uppsala municipality will be provided with a mentor during 6 months of their education. The mentor's role is to support participants during their training, aiming to increase completion rates and provide valuable insights into the profession, as well as networking opportunities. The chosen vocational fields—childcare, culinary arts, and healthcare—are areas with high demand and are considered shortage occupations in Sweden. Through continuous refinement based on knowledge acquisition and active involvement of the target group, this method aims to address the multifaceted challenges faced by foreign-born women in integrating into the workforce effectively.

Key results and benefits

The goal is that the women participating in the project will include an increased number of foreign-born women completing their vocational training and subsequently entering the workforce. By integrating mentorship with vocational education, the initiative aims to foster social and professional networks, enhance knowledge, provide supportive environments, facilitate language training, boost motivation and self-esteem, and tailor support to the needs and preferences of the target group.

Potential for mainstreaming

To better support our target group, we're working on building a network with other social organizations. We're looking for 5 partners who also help foreign-born women integrate into society, like through mentorship programs. By teaming up, we can share ideas and learn from each other's projects.