Ukreate Hub Grants Program

Ukreate Hub community unites over 300 active Ukrainians in Lithuania who have a desire to use their skills and competencies in an impactful way, create positive change for their own community and the host country, and fulfill their desire to be part of the struggle for a democratic Ukraine while staying abroad. To support the best ideas and see them implemented, Ukreate Hub has launched a grant program designed to equip Ukrainians with the necessary knowledge and tools to transform ideas into impactful projects with results. The grant program has been implemented twice since the opening of the Hub in February 2023 and was open to ideas that seek to create and amplify Ukrainian narratives, support Ukrainian women dealing with wartime realities and participation in Ukraine’s reconstruction process, and uphold the country’s democratic principles.

Program overview

The program includes free and open trainings on project design skills and pitching skills, followed by application stage for receiving financial grant in the amount of 2-3 thousand Euro to implement projects. The selection of winning projects is done through a participatory process, where all those who have applied for grant vote to determine the final recipients of grants.   

A total of ten projects are selected for funding in each season.

Focuses

  • Creating Ukrainian narratives – bringing Ukrainian voices to the fore.
  • The role of women in the reconstruction of Ukraine – social innovations and entrepreneurship.
  • Preservation and strengthening of the democratic orientation of Ukraine.

Seasons overview 

First Season

Started in April 2023, First grant season has an sufficient impact in supporting Ukrainian activists.

Ten individuals received scholarships of 2,000 euros each, enabling them to develop impactful projects. These initiatives have addressed several critical needs of the Ukrainian community, including:

  • Bringing new professional skills
  • Providing psychological support
  • Offering a platform for personal storytelling and recognition
  • Facilitating self-identification
  • Creating community bonds

The grants served a dual purpose: empowering ten individuals to take action and create, and equipping them with the tools necessary to address the needs of the Ukrainian community and ease their integration into Lithuanian society.

Supported projects results

  • 14 women leave with new skills for increasing efficiency at work and achieving success not only in their careers, but also in everyday life and education
  • 7 people decided to change their activities by taking part in psychological consultations
  • 50 people saw an exhibition about the war in Ukraine, and the resilience and the rule of the women in the war
  • An article and podcast every week were born and give the possibility to the people to understand a part of history
  • Screening also who can permit to the ukrainian population to see movie in their language and more than 200 people visited and more 6000 saw post in social media

Second Season

Lasted from November 23 to May 2024 (three projects were extended by the participants until August 2024). Each project focused on different aspects of improving well-being, professional development and integration into Lithuanian society. 

Following the initial grant season, it became clear that the identified needs of the Ukrainian community in Lithuania were both urgent and relevant. As a result, the focus on psychological assistance, new skills, networking and so forth remained unchanged.

Supported projects results

  • 11 women were trained in the “Conscious steps of mothers towards entrepreneurs” program and acquired new skills to increase work efficiency and achieve success not only in their careers, but also in everyday life and studies.
  • More than 400 children and adults got acquainted with the book “Ilaria in Lithuania” through meetings and presentations. The libraries of Lithuania and Ukraine received 400 books about the life of a Ukrainian in Lithuania.
  • 232 participants from 20 countries attended vocal and emotional self-expression trainings in the “The Sounding of the Ukrainian Woman” project, of which 22 received certificates.
  • 300 people saw the exhibition about successful Ukrainian women in Lithuania in the “Feeling of Fitting – Ukrainian Women in Lithuania” project.
  • 26 people completed a professional course on playback theater in the project “The Resilience Stage: Playback Theater for Refugee Empowerment”.
  • More than 250 people attended art and history workshops in the “Art Diffilade” project.

Empowering Communities: The Impact of Ukreate Hub’s Grant Program

The Ukreate Hub Grant Program has been instrumental in bolstering the Ukrainian community in Lithuania, facilitating economic growth and fostering cultural exchange. Its effectiveness and importance underscore the need for its continuation to further support individuals and strengthen Ukrainian-Lithuanian ties for continued growth and collaboration.

Moreover, each of these projects continues today, which is a good indicator of their relevance and benefits. These grants allowed entrepreneurs to achieve long-term integration in Lithuania, and also gave the Ukrainian population the opportunity to identify, meet, discuss and learn. The main goal of these grants was achieved: a positive social impact on both Ukrainians and Lithuanians