Yalla Trappan’s method in Ukraine: An Initiative to Empower Female Internally Displaced Persons and Create Job Opportunities

Viktoriia Pryimak is part of the project cooperation Yalla Goes East, Ukraine. She has a close connection to the Swedish Institute (SI) after having participated in two of SI’s leadership programmes, and it was through one of these that she met Yalla Trappan, a social enterprise in Malmö that focuses on creating job opportunities for women who have difficulty entering the labour market.

Yalla Trappan as Inspiration in Ukraine

Yalla Trappan’s method is based on a combination of utilizing the women’s practical experience and theoretical education, as well as developing individually tailored action plans.

Yalla Trappan’s method has greatly impressed Viktoriia Pryimak. She describes it as innovative and inclusive, and, with some modifications, applicable to the situation in Ukraine, especially considering the internal refugee crisis that has led to widespread unemployment.

– Ukraine is facing major challenges, especially in areas close to the frontline, where many people are fleeing. Men are being mobilized into the army while women often remain without work. The Yalla Trappan model is a potential solution to reduce unemployment among women in these areas, where the female unemployment rate is as high as 30 per cent.

Progress and Training in the Project

Since the start, Yalla Trappan has conducted several workshops through the Yalla Goes East project. In Ukraine, a total of 18 women have undergone training according to the Yalla Trappan method. One of the most prominent participants is Liudmyla, an internally displaced person from the Donetsk region, who runs a cheese business where five of the women now have been employed.

– Since social enterprises are not regulated in Ukraine, our team has partnered with an NGO to support the training in the Yalla Trappan method. However, NGOs in Ukraine are not allowed to conduct business activities, so the operation is managed through Liudmyla’s company, says Viktoriia Pryimak.

Meetings and Networking in Sweden

In late August, Viktoriia Pryimak visited Sweden, where she had the opportunity to meet with several of Yalla Trappan’s key partners, including Malmö Municipality and the Swedish Public Employment Service. She also visited Yalla Trappan’s cooperation with IKEA, where employees sew curtains. Pryimak highlights the importance of having had the chance to speak with the key stakeholders, especially the women working at Yalla Trappan.

Lessons and Challenges

Viktoriia Pryimak emphasizes that the project is not about copying Yalla Trappan’s method exactly, but rather adapting it to Ukraine’s specific conditions. There are legal obstacles, such as cooperatives not being as common in Ukraine, and the women in Ukraine are employed by one woman, which creates a different dynamic compared to Sweden, where decisions are made collectively.

– Another important lesson is that cooperation, negotiation, and communication must always come first. I have strong faith in the project’s success, as there is not only a great need at both the state and municipal levels but also strong commitment from all the involved parties.

Future Steps

Viktoriia Pryimak hopes to further develop the business and create more job opportunities, so that more women can be helped into the workforce, achieve self-sufficiency, and gain empowerment.

– The project, as a whole, is about giving women the tools and opportunities to regain control over their lives while also contributing to society and creating a sustainable future, Viktoriia Pryimak concludes.