Last Sunday, January 22nd, the Demoday of the “Empowering Women” mentoring program took place in Tallinn. Women who have been forced to leave Ukraine due to the war introduced the progress they have made in starting their microbusinesses in Estonia.

The “Empowering Women entrepreneurship program,” co-organized by Garage48 and Estonian Refugee Council, is designed for women who see the potential to restore their independent livelihood by creating micro- or family businesses.  Estonian Refugee Council and Garage48 have organized a similar program in eastern Ukraine since 2019. The program was launched in Estonia for the first time in the autumn of 2022 thanks to the partnership of the British Council in Estonia, Swedbank Estonia, and European Commission representation in Estonia.

“Estonian Refugee Council supports the creation and development of micro- and family businesses in various countries: Ukraine, Georgia, Kenya, and Jordan. In light of the war in Ukraine, for the first time also in Estonia and to help Ukrainian women who have reached Estonia to start or re-establish their enterprises. These businesses provide the necessary income and help by taking their thoughts elsewhere, away from the horrors of war,” says Estonian Refugee Council Director Eero Janson.

Women who have been forced to leave Ukraine due to the war and are located across Estonia, including in Tartu, Aseri, Pärnu, Saaremaa, Kohtla-Järve, Jõgevamaa, and Tallinn, took part in the program in more than 50 business idea teams. During three months, the women have participated in various workshops and mentoring sessions on topics from business creation basic, branding and marketing to sustainability, zero waste, and crowdfunding, exchanged experiences with local entrepreneurs, developed risk assessments and collaboration partners network, and developed business plans together with product or service prototypes. Several businesses have started their activities and building their customer base.

More than 50 entrepreneurs and experts took part in the program as mentors, primarily women, of whom several shared a migration and successful business launching experience in Estonia, which they were glad to share.

5 teams that showed the most progress during the past three months, were awarded 1000€ starting grants by the Estonian Refugee Council.
Jooga Ratastel  - yoga classes for the elderly in the rural areas of Saaremaa.
Kaya - Ukrainian home- and yoga wear brand with clothes made from sustainable materials.
Croissant - cafe in Kohtla-Järve, which will be run by the whole family.
KohViki - bakery in Tallinn, offering novel bread tastes.
Maasika Baar - handmade sweets of strawberries in chocolate, coming from various designs and flavors and made in Voore, Jõgevamaa.

“Next to the entrepreneurial knowledge and monetary support, a very important aspect for the program participants has been building connections with local experts and entrepreneurs and knowing they are welcomed into the local entrepreneurship community. Participants of the program say that communicating with local entrepreneurs and similarly entrepreneurial Ukrainian women across Estonia has given them support and motivation that can not be measured in any monetary terms and which has resulted in several already active businesses,” says the program manager and Garage48 member of the board Kadri Tiisvelt.

The “Empowering Women” entrepreneurship program was made into reality in Estonia thanks to the support of very many partners and supporters and several of them gave out special prizes.

European Commission representation in Estonia special mention and prize goes to two teams who have children’s well-being in mind.
Siil children’s hairdresser in Pärnu and GROW UP preschool children's education center in Aseri, Ida-Virumaa.

Swedbank Eesti employees voted their favorite - Jooga Ratastel yoga classes for the elderly in the rural areas of Saaremaa.

EENA BPW Estonia / Eesti Ettevõtlike Naiste Assotsiatsioon special prizes of 500€ go to two teams.
S&S Home Kitchen, offering business lunch to construction site workers. 
GROW UP preschool children's education center in Aseri, Ida-Virumaa.

Prototron accelerator welcomes two teams in their top 50 teams of the acceleration program starting this September.
JUMPCV online career platform and onewave.info platform connecting Ukrainian female entrepreneurs.

Thanks to iDeal Eesti, 16 top teams of the program get conveniently online and into the digital society of Estonia with their new laptops.

Telliskivi Loomelinnak, Rotermanni kvartal and Foorum offer office spaces to upcoming businesses.

“Estonian Refugee Council and Garage48 are continuing to support women who have lost their income due to the war in Ukraine and the next “Empowering Women entrepreneurship program” in central and eastern Ukraine will start in April 2023. We are hoping to launch the next program in Estonia really soon,” says Kadri Tiisvelt, program manager and Member of the Board at Garage48.