New Horizons: Empowering Refugees through Entrepreneurship in Lithuania

On September 29, 2025, our Project Partner Tech-Park Kaunas invites you to join New Horizons: Empowering Refugees through Entrepreneurship – an evening to celebrate achievements, share valuable lessons, and create new opportunities for refugees, with a special focus on women entrepreneurs who are ready to continue their journeys of resilience and innovation.

📍 Location: IOM in Lithuania, Migration Information Center (MICenter), Jasinskio St. 16, II floor, Vilnius.

The event, organized by Tech-Park Kaunas, Partner of the BSI_4Women project, is designed to inspire and connect people from different backgrounds – refugee entrepreneurs, mentors, and stakeholders. Through real-life stories, project results, and community discussions, the gathering will show how entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for integration and self-empowerment.

What to Expect

The evening will begin with a warm welcome and opening remarks from representatives of international and local organizations working with refugees – the UN Refugee Agency, Tech-Park Kaunas, the Refugee Council in Lithuania, and the IOM Lithuania Information Centre. Their words will set the tone for an inspiring and collaborative atmosphere.

The first highlight will be the Keynote Inspiration: the personal story of Iryna Domaskina, an entrepreneur, trainer, and founder of Stretching School. Her journey of overcoming challenges and building a business in a new country will give a voice to many refugee women who have turned obstacles into opportunities.

Next, the program will focus on Our Journey, Our Achievements, where several projects will present their results and recommendations:

• The BSI_4Women project, co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, will share its outcomes and good practices, presented by Živilė Paužaitė, Head of Quality at Tech-Park Kaunas.

• The USA Embassy–funded initiative, led by the Refugee Council in Lithuania, will showcase its work on building entrepreneurial and digital skills for refugees between October 2023 and September 2025, presented by Akhtar Akhgar, Program Manager.

• The Collective Pattern initiative, supported and co-funded by the Western Union Global Fellowship Program, will highlight how Ukrainian senior refugee women are empowered through art, craft, and entrepreneurship, linking cultural heritage with new opportunities. Presentations will be made by Viktoriia Palahniuk and Nataliia Volska.

The second part of the evening, Entrepreneurial Experiences and Lessons Learned, will introduce successful refugee entrepreneurs who will share their own business paths:

• Olena Bondaruk, creator of the ViLena jewellery brand.

• Zita Vorobjova, founder of the Multicultural Children’s Education Center Aviliukas in Kaunas.

• Svitlana Kolomeiko, founder of Delicious Gifts.

• Oleksandr Holovkin, who will reflect on his journey of integration in Lithuania and experiences with training programs.

The program will then move to Community & Future Opportunities, where participants will be able to discuss next steps with partners and mentors, including Tech-Park Kaunas, the Refugee Council Lithuania, IOM Lithuania Information Centre, the Red Cross Lithuania, VMU Ukrainian Centre, Ukreate Hub, Open Nations, and others. This dialogue will open the door to new partnerships and support pathways for refugee entrepreneurs.

Finally, the evening will close with reflections and a celebration cake, bringing together a joint message of encouragement and solidarity for all participants.

Why It Matters

This event brings together the outcomes of several initiatives – from the BSI_4Women project to programs funded by the USA Embassy in Vilnius and the Western Union Global Fellowship Program. All of them show a clear message: with tailored support, mentorship, and a strong community, refugee women can not only create successful businesses but also contribute to brighter and more inclusive societies.