At a time when Europe is redefining its geopolitical stance, Romania is being called upon to respond with empathy and systemic solutions for Ukrainian refugee women. Empowering Hope – The Reveal, an event organized yesterday by the National Confederation for Women Entrepreneurship (CONAF), in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Institute, UNICEF Romania, Code for Romania, ASSA Foundation, the European Migration Alliance and AMOFM, and supported by MSD Romania, highlighted an uncomfortable truth: 1,233 days after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, refugee women still live in transition – suspended between unresolved trauma, administrative barriers, and the absence of coherent economic and social integration policies.
According to official data, as of May 31, 2025, Romania hosted 186,070 Ukrainian refugees, of whom approximately 80% are women and children. Most continue to face structural obstacles: the lack of Romanian or English language skills severely limits access to healthcare, education, and employment. Limited financial resources make the legalization of documents an almost insurmountable challenge. This results in a failure to harness vital human capital in an economy already struggling with labor shortages and a low birth rate. Instead of being integrated as an active, productive resource, tens of thousands of women remain in the gray area of economic marginalization—at a time when Romania can no longer afford structural inefficiency.
The event opened with a press conference where representatives of civil society and the private sector presented data and concrete solutions for the integration of refugee women. Speakers included Cristina Chiriac, President of CONAF; Liviu Jicman, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute; Marcelo Pascual Morales, Managing Director MSD Romania & Moldova; Gabrielle Akimova, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Romania; Bogdan Ivănel, Founder of Code for Romania; Felicia Drăgan, Deputy Director of AMOFM Sector 5; Alina Gurău, Project Manager, ASSA Foundation; Inna Plachynda, voice of the refugee community; and Empowering Hope Ambassadors Dana Vasilescu and Corina Neagu.
A symbolic connection with Ukraine followed through a video message from Maryna Saprykina, internationally recognized CSR expert, UN consultant, and founder of the UWE Hub women entrepreneurs’ network. Drawing on her extensive expertise in ethical leadership, gender equality, and crisis sustainability, Saprykina offered a lucid and deeply moving perspective on female resilience in wartime—evoking both loss and the power of reinvention.
Two thematic panels—on health and labor market integration—created a rare type of public dialogue in Romania: an honest reflection on what does not work and where real opportunities for intervention exist.
The program concluded with a live vocational counseling session, led by Empowering Hope ambassador Dana Vasilescu, encouraging refugee women to once again become protagonists of their own destinies.
The presence of Andriy Skliar, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Ukraine, sent a clear signal that institutional dialogue between Romania and Ukraine is expanding precisely where it matters most—toward tangible support for those carrying the heaviest burdens of war.
A Replicable Model for Inclusion
The pilot project launched yesterday proposes a functional and scalable model of intervention, built on volunteer-based, online-accessible programs, including:
-
Romanian language courses (basic level) and digital literacy;
-
Healthcare and prevention services;
-
Psychological counseling;
-
Mentorship opportunities.
Cristina Chiriac, President of CONAF, explained the vision behind the initiative:
“Inclusion is not an option. It is the only dignified path in a society that seeks to be humane. Empathy must now be transformed into infrastructure, into future-oriented public policies, and into genuine partnerships between the state, business, and civil society. Ukrainian refugee women do not need pity—they need the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity. Empowering Hope is more than a program. It is a movement of conscience, a call for active solidarity, and an invitation to make Romania a model of inclusion.”
Liviu Jicman, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute, reaffirmed ICR’s role:
“The Romanian Cultural Institute is honored to host this event. Since the very beginning of the war, we have stood in solidarity with Ukraine, supporting concrete projects through our network. Culture must not fall silent in the face of war—solidarity is our mission.”
Gabrielle Akimova, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Romania, underlined UNICEF’s commitment:
“When a mother is safe and supported, she can create a refuge for her children. For three years, UNICEF has worked with national and local authorities, and with partners, to strengthen systems of access to education and healthcare—not only for refugees, but for all children in Romania.”
Marcelo Pascual Morales, Managing Director of MSD Romania & Moldova, emphasized health as a pillar of inclusion:
“Health is more than a right—it is the key for women to regain control over their lives. Empowering Hope reflects our commitment to supporting vulnerable communities through prevention, education, and psychosocial support. By investing in women’s health, we invest in Romania’s future.”
Bogdan Ivănel, Founder of Code for Romania, shared the vision behind dopomoha.ro, the unified digital platform for refugees, while Alina Gurău (ASSA Foundation) and Felicia Drăgan (AMOFM) highlighted the importance of mentorship, vocational training, and career counseling.
Inna Plachynda, representing the refugee community, shared her personal story of resilience, now working at the UNICEF-supported Blue Dot Community Center in Bucharest:
“We must celebrate small victories and believe in ourselves. We are stronger than we think.”
Next Steps
Following its humanitarian debut in Chernivtsi in November 2024, Empowering Hope will expand to Iași, Tulcea, Constanța, Suceava, and Brașov, initially serving over 300 refugee women. Yet the ultimate goal is broader: sustainable inclusion.
Empowering Hope stands as a model of intersectoral collaboration—state, NGOs, and business—that could set a new standard for systemic efficiency. Romania now has a historic opportunity: to move from declarative solidarity to functional inclusion policies, transforming trauma into economic strength and acknowledging that the future cannot be built in the absence of those still struggling to find their voice.