First social enterprise to prevent human trafficking in Ukraine starts in Lviv

The first social enterprise to prevent human trafficking is launched on 22 July 2015 in Western Ukraine with the support from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU). First ten women at-risk of human trafficking, including seven internally displaced persons, started their training in felting as an initial step in functioning of the social enterprise.

As one of the four piloting locations, Lviv NGO gets the PCU support to start handicrafts workshop which will produce batik (painting on fabric) and felting accessories and wood products for gardens, parkland and interior.

“Coming to Lviv from a heavily industrial Donbass was a cultural clash for me,” said Alexey, an internally displaced person from Donetsk who came to the NGO to accompany his wife. “My current professional skills can hardly be applicable to the local labour market. That’s why I really look forward to participating in the wood classes to obtain better perspectives,” he added.

The project, launched by the PCU jointly with Ukraine’s Social Policy Ministry, aims to create new economic opportunities for victims of trafficking and vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, as well as to strengthen NGOs’ capacity to provide services to trafficked victims.

The PCU supports NGOs in launching their social businesses, which will become a source of funding for their anti-trafficking activities. At the same time, social enterprises will help with on-the-job training and create temporary employment opportunities for actual and potential victims of trafficking, as well as for internally displaced persons. This will help them gain experience and qualifications needed to become more competitive on the labour market.

The project is implemented with financial support from the governments of Canada and Norway, and in close co-operation with the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.