The VOICE project (Vocational Opportunities and Integration for Refugee Community Empowerment), co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), has reached a significant milestone in its dissemination and stakeholder engagement efforts. Across Spain, Poland, Italy, and Belgium, project partners have collectively engaged over 700 stakeholders – including policymakers, employment institutions, civic organisations, and Ukrainian diaspora communities – in support of the project's mission to support the social and professional integration of Ukrainian refugees.
Diplomatic Engagement in Spain
One of the most notable outreach milestones took place in July 2026, when Internet Web Solutions (IWS), the project lead based in Málaga, met with Ukrainian Consul Volodymyr Lukianov at the Ukrainian Consulate in Málaga. The meeting, supported by local partner Asociación Arrabal-AID, presented the VOICE platform and its e-learning modules to the consul. He expressed strong interest in the initiative and offered to share the platform with Ukrainian associations throughout Spain.
Asociación Arrabal-AID has also played an active role in building connections with the Ukrainian community and other relevant stakeholders. As part of its dissemination activities, Arrabal established contact with the Youth Council of the Embassy of Ukraine in Spain, with whom it organised two training sessions on VOICE. The Youth Council also helped raise awareness of this collaboration between Arrabal, IWS and the Ukrainian community through its own social media channels.
Arrabal-AID also presented the VOICE project to political representatives in Málaga, helping to bring the initiative to the attention of local decision-makers and further strengthen the project's visibility at the local level.
Prior to this, in May 2026, IWS met with Deputy Alberto Rojo at the Spanish Congress of Deputies in Madrid to present the VOICE project, bringing the initiative to the attention of national legislators.
Across their engagement activities, IWS reached over 600 stakeholders, including members of the Spanish Senate, Ukrainian associations, social organisations, and representatives of local government, through direct mailings, workshops, and public events.
Outreach to Employment Institutions in Poland
In Poland, both ADN Instytut and Fundacja Circle have been active in bringing the VOICE platform to institutions working with people seeking employment and social inclusion.
ADN Instytut organised a workshop for employees of labour offices, reaching professionals who work directly with displaced people and job seekers. The organisation also held a multiplier event in Kutno, expanding awareness of the VOICE platform among local stakeholders. In total, ADN Instytut engaged over 60 stakeholders through direct outreach.
Fundacja Circle focused on building a broad stakeholder network, contacting 70 organisations and institutions across multiple sectors. Outreach covered non-governmental organisations, public authorities at city and regional level, local and regional media, employer and business organisations, education and training providers, and Ukrainian community representatives. Fundacja Circle also organised three in-person events during the project period, engaging university communities, local citizens, and working-age professionals.
Activities in Italy and Belgium
In Italy, EPIC Platform and Università degli Studi "G. d'Annunzio" di Chieti-Pescara (UDA) have maintained an active presence in local academic and professional networks. EPIC has been in contact with Ukrainian universities and participated in career-oriented events for young people. UDA has shared project updates through its institutional channels, reaching local academic communities and the wider public. Together, partners in Italy reached over 400 people through in-person activities.
IHF asbl in Belgium, as a Brussels-based partner with strong EU policy networks, has contributed to the project's visibility at the European level, publishing press releases and updates on its institutional website.
Social Media and Online Reach
Alongside in-person and stakeholder engagement, all partners have been active in online dissemination. Through social media channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as project websites, press releases, and e-newsletters, the VOICE consortium has generated over 1.8 million online impressions. The project's social media channels have been active since the project's launch, covering platform updates, partner activities, piloting highlights, and module content.
About VOICE
The VOICE project is co-funded by the European Union through the Social Innovation Initiative Programme and is implemented by an international consortium committed to promoting inclusion, education, and equal opportunities through innovative digital solutions that support the social and professional inclusion of Ukrainian refugees.
Project Website: www.voice-inclusion.eu
Email: voiceesfproject@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voiceinclusion/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voice-inclusion/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Voice_esf_project
