Entrepreneurship and Inspiration: The Third Season of "Empowering Women" Has Concluded

04/04/2025
Group of women with roll ups on the background
Empowering Women entrepreneurship programme final event in Tallinn at the end of March

The third season of the Empowering Women entrepreneurship programme, launched in autumn by the Estonian Refugee Council, Garage48, and Swedbank, has successfully concluded. A total of 26 female-led teams completed the programme, including four with refugee backgrounds.

This programme supports women in starting or developing their microbusinesses while also helping refugee women in Estonia achieve financial independence and long-term stability. At the same time, it contributes to the growth of the local economy. For the first time, women from across Estonia took part in this season’s programme.

According to Grete Karelsohn, Economic Recovery Specialist at the Estonian Refugee Council, this year’s programme also included activities aimed at supporting the mental well-being of refugee participants and strengthening community ties. “We organised group sessions based on the MindSpring methodology in Tallinn and Jõhvi to support mental health. In Kurgja and Narva, participants were introduced to Estonian history and culture to foster a sense of community and improve social integration.”

Over the past six months, 41 teams—14 of them led by refugee women—received mentorship and guidance from local experts on starting, managing, and growing a business in Estonia. The programme featured mentors from various fields who led workshops and mentoring sessions on topics such as financial planning, design thinking, marketing, leadership, and digitalisation. Additionally, a two-day online hackathon was held to help participants create e-shops and websites.

Four refugee-led teams made it to the final: Artelier, a fashion brand; Artner, an art platform; Simple Beauty, a beauty services business; and Vintouria, which plans to organise wine region tours and offer wine tastings paired with dishes made using local recipes.

The Empowering Women entrepreneurship programme is organised by the Estonian Refugee Council, Garage48, and Swedbank, with partners EENA and OBJEKT. The programme is co-funded by Swedbank, Garage48, the Estonian Refugee Council, OBJEKT, and the European Union.

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