What does a European project like UNITE look like in practice?
Over the past months, we have accompanied Ukrainian newcomers in Göttingen and the surrounding region on their individual pathways towards employment and participation. And while numbers can only tell part of the story, they give us a good opportunity to look at what has happened.
26 participants took part in individual mentoring and coaching – women and men with very different professional backgrounds, experiences, needs and goals.
But UNITE was about more than employment counselling. Together, we worked on job applications and professional perspectives, language and digital skills, orientation in everyday life and many other issues that can influence the path towards employment.
Our weekly Language Café provided a regular and informal space to practise German, meet others and gain confidence in speaking. Individual and group activities took learning beyond the coaching room – from cultural and community activities to visits to local organisations and opportunities to discover new places, people and networks.
And there were concrete steps forward: participants found employment, developed new professional perspectives, prepared applications and interviews, explored training opportunities or – in one case – took important steps towards starting their own business.
What have we learned?
Integration into employment is rarely one straight path. Language, skills, confidence, social contacts, knowledge of local structures and individual circumstances all play a role. This is why UNITE combined different forms of support and adapted them to the individual person.
Behind every number is a different story – and a different next step.
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unded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund+. Neither the European Union nor the European Social Fund+ can be held responsible for them.
