01 July, 2024 – The outbreak of conflict in Ukraine and the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Serbia caught state institutions unprepared to systematically and effectively assist refugees’ reception and integration. The lack of a clear strategy and coherence among state institutions led refugees to face number of challenges of not knowing local labor market, healthcare, education systems and/or also meeting inadequately informed officials in some of the institutions of public importance.

To help regulating refugees’ status and fostering the integration of Ukrainian refugees into Serbian society, the Asylum Protection Center (APC) began providing legal and psychosocial assistance to these traumatized people since they started arriving in Serbia. To contribute to the refugees’ upskilling, employment and ultimately sustainable integration of refugees into Serbian society, APC also collaborated with state institutions, local companies, while in the same time organizing refugees training and job mentoring at Utočište. Through development of Utočište/Refuge, APC employed many vulnerable groups of refugees and members of the local communit. Among other, it employed vulnerable women, mothers, and young people, providing them with an opportunity to acquire new job skills and earn income to support their families. While working together at Utočište/Refuge, refugees and local community members got also the chance to learn more about each other, their cultures and languages. This is how our social business became a catalyst of refugees’ integration within Serbian society, as well as an example of a successful joint entrepreneurship initiative of refugees and host community.

Nataša, young mother from Ukraine is among many refugees, that APC helped since the establishment of its social enterprise. APC assisted Nataša, young mother from Ukraine to find an employment at Utočište/Refuge and to currently undergo variety of tranings in the areas of food processing, pastries productions, restaurant hygiene procedures, customer relations and sales. As Nataša lives far away from Utočište/Refuge and has family obligations, APC also provides Natasa with flexible working hours and tries to support in many other ways. For example and when support was needed, APC’s integration team stepped in and assisted Nataša’s child getting the state’s health insurance. Nataša lives in Belgrade, studies Serbian language, adjusts and integrates within local community. With the support of APC, Nataša acquires new working skills, earnes salary, feels safer and more accepted !