Project SWEET- Supporting Women in Emergency with Environnement of Trust Integration of migrants and refugees Migration Partner La Speranza ONLUS, La Cittadella della condivisione casa dei diritti e della dignità, La Mediateca Donor Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) Foundation Stakeholders Public and private service providers, Third sector entities, Local communities Objective of the project We want to ensure a prompt and proper reception of people who are fleeing the war in Ukraine. Abstract of the project The SWEET project – Supporting Women in Emergency with Enviroments of Trust, is ActionAid Italy’s response to the Ukrainian crisis. On the one hand, it promotes access to basic services and basic necessities for those arriving in Italy fleeing the war, and on the other, it immediately focuses on promoting a path of social and economic integration that allows the beneficiaries to lay the foundations for a new life. Context analysis The invasion of Ukraine on 24 February marked the escalation of a conflict that has deep roots. The violence of the aggression has triggered a drastic increase in humanitarian needs in the country; in fact, many civilians are still fleeing the fighting, and in many cases are seeking family reunification with people residing in other European countries, including Italy. The exodus mainly involves women, mothers with children, who walk for days to reach neighbouring countries in extremely precarious conditions. The UNHCR estimates that 9,172,153 refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in search of safety since 24 February. A further 8 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine. An estimated 15.7 million people are in urgent need of protection and humanitarian assistance (https://www.unhcr.org/ukraine-emergency.html?query=ukraine). In the Italian territories in which ActionAid operates, there are needs and criticalities linked, on the one hand, to the reception capacities of the landing contexts and, on the other, to the risk of social polarisation. In Italy, ActionAid has promptly taken action to support the Ukrainian and Russian-speaking communities in the areas where we have been present for some time with projects of socio-occupational inclusion and empowerment in favour of women and foreign communities. Corsico, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy Basilicata, Italy Calabria, Italy Puglia, Italy The project focuses on the territories of Arco Ionico (Calabria, Puglia, and Basilicata), Campania, and Lombardia. Implementation Period 11/04/2022 - 11/04/2023 Beneficiaries Direct 380 women and children fleeing war 13 women peer mentors Indirect Local public institutions Project Strategy Activities Mapping needs Collection and distribution of emergency kits Listening and orientation activities towards different services Community development and peer mentoring Outputs Help desks in the project work areas develop and adapt their services to welcome and respond to the basic needs of Ukrainian people fleeing war Data report Study of basic needs of people fleeing war Outcomes 380 Ukrainian women escaping war receive assistance and socioeconomic guidance that enables them to integrate into host communities 13 Ukrainian and Russian women already living in Italy acquire specific skills for the reception and orientation of refugees and displaced people 3 host communities in which the project operates are sensitized about the issue of reception and integration