Ukraine is an East European country with a population of 46 million people where Ukrainian is the only official language, but Russian is widely spoken as well.  Kiev is its capital. The largest number of Ukrainian workers abroad live in the Russian Federation, but many migrate to Western European countries in search for a better future as well. In Brussels, as in other capitals, a big Ukrainian community is present and many of them return after a few years to Ukraine. Some of them suffer from the loss of their house or land due to it being inundated while they are away. As unemployment increases drastically in their country, many try to set up an income generating activity after their return.

Download here the ERSO SURVEY ON UKRAINE (2009)

"Solidarity Net Ukraine" was established from September 2008 until August 2009 as a network of Ukrainian partner organizations in 15 regions with the coordinating office of Caritas Ukraine in Lviv/Western Ukraine. The network consisted of 30 independent NGOs who functioned as network partners. They provided assistance to returnees in the regions of Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhgorod, Chernivci, Rivne, Khmelnicki, Zhytomyr, Vinniciya, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Doneck, Kharkiv and Kiev. They were also active in the field of social work, anti-trafficking, youth/family aid and development.

The project has been prolonged and is currently coordinated by Caritas International Belgium and supported by Caritas Austria. Through the Focal Point Ukraine, which is located at Caritas Austria, migrants who return to Ukraine from different European countries (ERSO network), are being assisted in their region of return. They get the necessary information already prior to return and receive highly individualized assistance tailored to their needs for up to six months after return. After arrival, every returnee has to contact the coordinating office in Lviv, after which they will be assisted by the coordinator Iryna Brych and legal consultant Rostyslav Kis.

Our partners support them with their first steps upon return, with comprehensive legal counseling, vocational training, access to social and medical services and psychological counseling. Likewise material support is granted to returnees depending on their individual situation and needs. In the last project period in most cases this has been support for income generation activities. The reintegration process is being monitored and followed-up for a period of up to 6 months after return.

Olga returned in February 2009. She was a single mother of 3 kids who were still in Ukraine. Her youngest daughter was 1 year old when Olga contacted Caritas Belgium for a voluntary return to her country. She contacted her children once a month. She had one elder sister. Her parents lived far away and her husband left a long time ago. She was a very optimistic and realistic woman.

Olga wanted to buy professional equipment and she made a budget for hairdresser's material for about 1100 Euros. Caritas Belgium could give her 700 Euros and 400 Euros came from the ERSO budget, so Olga's case was a combination of Belgian and ERSO (European) funding. She preferred to stay with her children after her return, which is why she needed to create an activity in her house. Her oldest daughter would also work to support the family.

Caritas Kiev and especially the Solidarity Net investigated the possibilities in the region, supported by the reintegration assistance of the partner NGO "Dopomoha Liudiam" (Chernivcy); this was one of their first reports:

1) In village Izevci there is no hairdresser. A hairdresser has a chance for a good income.

2) Olga already found a building across the street where she plans to open her shop but she needs an agreement from the mayor for it.

The local authorities refused Olga's request about opening a hairdressers shop in the  building. But a week later they found another place in a perspective location - directly in the center of the village at the clubbing house around café-bar and wedding house. This apartment was in good condition (only small repairs were needed) and was owned by a relative of Olga. After that Olga purchased all necessary goods, gathered documentation for registration of the business and received a boiler and other installation services by Caritas Kiev.   

At present Olga and her daughter work successfully together. Olga is often taking care of the smaller children while her daughter works in the hairdressers shop.

For any question concerning reintegration in Ukraine, please contact :

Ine Lietaert
i.lietaert@caritasint.be
0032 2 229 36 27