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Current programmes
Estonian Refugee Council, Garage48 and Swedbank, in partnership with the Estonian Association of Entrepreneurial Women and OBJEKT, will launch the third season of the Empowering Women entrepreneurship programme this autumn.
Estonian Refugee Council and Garage48 have been working together since 2019, to empower more than 100 internally displaced women inside Ukraine and Ukraine refugees in Estonia in launching their microbusinesses. With the knowledge gained throughout the five years, we are taking the Empowering Women programme further, to empower more entrepreneurial people.
Submission of business ideas open | 05 September 2024, 18:00 |
Empowering Women Idea Garage | 19 October 2024, 11:30 |
Deadline for business ideas submissions | 21 October 2024, 23:59 |
Empowering Women hackathon | 01 November 2024, 18:00 |
Deadline for submission of applications | 17 November 2024, 23:59 |
Empowering Women hackathon final | 23 November 2024, 14:00 |
Incubation programme pre-webinar | 05 December 2024, 18:00 |
Incubation programme demo day | 30 March 2025, 14:00 |
Estonian Refugee Council is launching a new Emergency Livelihoods Programme, aimed at providing access to sustainable livelihoods for Ukrainian refugees in Georgia. This initiative is designed to support the most vulnerable households by helping them generate new sources of income and achieve the subsistence minimum.
80 Ukrainian refugee households will each receive a grant of 1,000 Euros. The grants can be used to set up new business or to purchase essential equipment for already existing businesses in order to enhance their livelihoods.
Application deadline | Ongoing |
Evaluation of applications | August |
Series of entrepreneurship trainings | September |
Final selection of beneficiaries | October - November |
Grants disbursement | November |
The employability programme welcomes people with a refugee background, who want to enter the labor market in Estonia or change their jobs. This program is suitable for everyone, regardless of their work experience or current employment status in Estonia.
A total of 144 people can participate in the 5-day employability programme during a two-week period. The program lasts for 12 months. Upon program completion, participants gain the chance to engage in work practice or job shadowing across various organizations. A total of 12 groups are formed with an average of 12 people. The groups are held in Russian and English.
Pre-webinar ENG | Every month on the 20th 18:00-20:00 |
Pre-webinar RUS | Every month on the 20th 18:00-20:00 |
Opening day of the programme | 20 May 2024 |
Registration | Ongoing throughout the year until June 2025 |
Feedback to candidates | Periodically to all candidates |
Employability programme | 28 June 2024 - 28 June 2025 |
Internship/job-shadowing programme | August 2024 - June 2025 |
Estonian Refugee Council is starting a new emergency livelihoods programme aimed at providing access to sustainable livelihoods in Cherkasy, Kirovohrad and Poltava oblasts. Around 450 people will benefit 36 000 UAH for the generation of new sources of income and supporting them to achieve the subsistence minimum.
Application deadline | Ongoing |
Evaluation of applications | Up to 1 month after application |
Signing of the grant agreement | Up to 1 week after successful application |
Grants disbursement | Up to 1 week after signing grant agreement |
Estonian Refugee Council in collaboration with Garage48 invites women in Cherkasy, Kirovohrad and Poltava oblasts to build their future and realise their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs.
80 individuals with new business ideas and 60 already existing business founders will be selected for the programme to get support on getting started and developing a sustainable and crisis-resilient micro company. At least 60 individuals or business teams selected by the jury will benefit 39,000 – 195,000 UAH in the form of asset-based grants together with mentoring for six months.
Programme pre-webinar | 07 March 2024, 18:00-20:00 UTC+2 |
Application deadline for INCUBATION: Entrepreneurship Programme for the creation of new businesses | 17 March 2024 |
Announcement of selected participants into INCUBATION: Entrepreneurship Programme for the creation of new businesses | 22 March 2024 |
INCUBATION: Entrepreneurship Programme for the creation of new businesses | 06-21 April 2024 |
INCUBATION Finals & Award ceremony | 27 April 2024 |
Application deadline for ACCELERATION: Entrepreneurship Programme for the relocation and re-starting of existing businesses | 17 May 2024 |
Announcement of selected participants into the ACCELERATION: Entrepreneurship Programme for the relocation and re-starting of existing businesses | 3 May 2024 |
ACCELERATION: Entrepreneurship Programme for the relocation and re-starting of existing businesses | 18-27 May 2024 |
ACCELERATION Finals & Award ceremony | 30 May 2024 |
Business grants & mentoring | June – November 2024 |
Past programmes