Ukrainian women abroad: reflections on work and adaptation abroad

On February 19, a cross-border Ukrainian women’s meeting took place in Tartu, Estonia. The event, organised by the Institute of Baltic Studies in cooperation with its partner in Sweden, Region Uppsala, aimed to create space for sharing experiences related to entering the labour market and adapting to life in a new country.

Ukrainian women, who lived in Estonia, could attend the meeting in Tartu, while Ukrainian women based in Uppsala, Sweden, joined online. This diverse audience contributed to a lively and insightful cross-border exchange. Over the course of two hours, participants shared personal experiences and discussed challenges related to employment and integration in Estonia and Sweden.

Such cross-border interactions highlighted the importance of Ukrainian community networks as well as local neighbourhood ties in navigating life abroad. Many attendees also stated that language barriers serve as a key challenge, sometimes leading to feelings of isolation and significantly limiting opportunities in daily life and work.

After the event, participants also had the opportunity to connect and exchange contacts. Given the positive feedback, numerous attendees noted that the meeting was both informative and beneficial to their future professional skills and career opportunities.

The event was organised as part of the Central Baltic Mentoring for Migrant Women seeking Employment (CeMeWe) project funded by INTERREG, which aims to strengthen employment opportunities and support professional development of migrant women in the Central Baltic region.