Member of the European Parliament Janina Ochojska and Ashoka Hello Europe invites you to join the launch of the Stepping Up report on the work, needs and insights from six European countries welcoming Ukrainian refugees.  

On 19 September 2023, 15:30, MEP Janina Ochojska and Hello Europe, Ashoka’s initiative infusing changemaking into the field of migration, will present the Stepping Up report on the work, needs and insights from six European countries welcoming Ukrainian refugees.   

365 changemakers from Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia shared their challenges and their vision for the future of the ecosystem. The report celebrates the way they rose to the occasion and draws a picture of how Europe can and should step up: how to engage refugees if we want to go beyond crisis relief towards re-framing refugees as changemakers.  

The report highlights the diversity of the solutions offered by those changemakers and their self-perception, the issues of mental health and access to funding. It addresses such barriers as harmful narratives and propaganda and outlines the mindset shifts that need to take place in order for refugees to be seen as a positive force and valued for their contribution.  

The event will include the presentation of the key findings of the report, as well as a panel discussion with the participation of the host Janina Ochojska, MEP and founder of Polish Humanitarian Action, Mariia Borysenko, Young Changemaker form Germany, Ashoka Fellow and the founder of Funky Citizens from Romania Elena Calistru , Ashoka Europe Policy Unit Lead Laura Batalla, and Misza Czerniak, Hello Europe Mapping Lead.

The panel will focus on the recommendations for decision-makers and political actors put forward by the authors of the report. 

Event Flow

Welcome from MEP Janina Ochojska

Presentation of the report by Ashoka

Panel 

Q&A Session

Closing remarks and summary