Solidarity Net Ukraine

Solidarity Net Ukraine

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

Through the Focal Point Ukraine, which is located at Caritas Austria, migrants, returning to Ukraine through the ERSO network, are being assisted in their region of return. They get necessary information already prior to return and receive highly individualized assistance tailored to their needs for up to six months after return. 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 upon return.

A survey on the situation and needs of returnees in Ukraine, which was prepared by the project staff in the above mentioned period, contains information about the general circumstances of return into Ukraine, an in-depth case study of 10 selected returnees to Ukraine and best practice of the ERSO Solidarity Net Ukraine project.

For further information please contact the project coordinator of Caritas Austria, Birgit Salzmann, e-mail: birgit.salzmann@caritas-austria.at

Vienna, November 2009