Women aged between 20 and 39, coming from rural areas of their Country, often holding a secondary school diploma and in 94% of cases with at least one child in their country of origin. This is the identikit of the Ukraine women working in Italy, whose number is steadily growing and estimated to be between 1.3 and 3.2 million. During the period of separation from their families, but also on return home, these women feel that their children perceive them simply as a source of income and that they have lost part of their emotional attachment (the so-called "easy money syndrome").
The Migrations - Ukraine project of Unidea - UniCredit Foundation is dedicated to these women. The aim of the project is to support Ukraine families to relieve the care drain effects produced by migration, prevent deskilling and help social and economic reintegration of migrants returning to Ukraine.

The project was conceived with a co-development approach and comprises a series of activities seeking to accompany every stage of the migration cycle: from migrants' departure from Ukraine, to their stay in Italy (one of the main destinations of Ukraine migrants) and return to their home country. This is the latest initiative from the Migrations Programme, set up by Unidea within the UniCredit Group with the aim to increase awareness and information on the topic of migration, recognised today as being a major issue of social interest.
Migrations is a long-term programme representing a challenge in terms of cultural growth and social commitment which Unidea – UniCredit Foundation and UniCredit Group have decided to meet. The programme involves the 22 countries where UniCredit Group operates and which live the experience of migration with specific and critical needs varying from one country to another.
The Ukraine project is based on three aspects: sustaining transnational parenting to help strengthen the bonds between migrants and their relatives in Ukraine; providing training, qualification and professional empowerment activities; promoting the start-up of businesses in the home country with specific training to both returnees and relatives remaining in Ukraine.

The project is divided into two different parts: the first is addressed to migrants and to their families in Ukraine, and provides psychosocial support and legal assistance in order to ensure the use of legal migration processes and to relieve the consequences of the migrant's absence in the family of origin; the second part provides the opportunity for migrants returning to Ukraine after a period of work in Italy to achieve social and economic reintegration. Thanks to the project, Ukraine migrants and their relatives will receive entrepreneurial training aimed at maximising the impact of their economic resources (remittances) and their professional experiences acquired in Italy.
In tangible terms, the beneficiaries of the project in Ukraine will be 300 families living in the region of Lviv, who will receive legal and psychological support, and 150 Ukrainians (including relatives and children) who will be helped and assisted in communicating with migrants through Skype. 20 relatives of migrants and returnees will receive professional training and consulting for business start-up. In Italy, 200 Ukraine migrants living in Lombardy will receive legal and psychological support through a specific office in Milan. Of these, 40 will be provided with a service facilitating communication with their relatives (especially children) in Ukraine through Skype and will have access to career guidance and entrepreneurial training. Of these, 4 will be assisted in the development of their business plan on return to Ukraine.
The NGO partners of the project are: Soleterre Onlus/Zaporuka Foundation, Ukrainian centre "Women's Perspectives" and Soyuz Ukrainok (Union of Ukraine Women).

Given its geographical position at a crossroads between East and West, Ukraine is one of the main migration routes towards EU Countries. Extensive labour migration started at the beginning of 1990's and represents the prevailing model of migrating streams from Ukraine towards western countries. Female migration is a distinguishing aspect of Ukrainian labour migration and a national concern. Together with positive aspects (remittances and reductions of national unemployment), emigration of Ukraine citizens is accompanied by negative social factors such as deskilling of emigrants, brain draining, care drain and the so-called "social orphans", the latter being a result of female migration.
Five million Ukrainians work abroad on a temporary basis: according to a survey by Caritas Ukraine, 80% of Ukraine migrants state they intend returning to their hometown. The key reasons for international labour migration include: low salaries, under-employment/unemployment and poor living and working conditions.