Leveraging social entrepreneurship among Ukrainian refugees for resilient communities

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Due to russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, European countries have faced a consistent inflow of displaced persons and refugees from Ukraine. Today, there is an urgent need for specific measures aimed at fostering social cohesion between refugees and the local population. In order to ensure well-being and integration of Ukrainian refugees in the host country’s workforce and local community, it is necessary to have a comprehensive societal response enabling the Ukrainian refugees to act as agents of social changes and their own professional development through upskilling and reskilling opportunities as well as employment assistance initiatives. One of the pathways is to develop social entrepreneurship and promote entrepreneurial intention among refugees, as it can play a crucial role in their integration into a host country and can improve their overall well-being. The study utilises the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and “4A engine” approach to determine entrepreneurial behaviour among refugees and influence key factors to raise the intention level towards social entrepreneurship. Developing social entrepreneurship among refugees not only benefits the individuals themselves but also contributes to the social, economic, and cultural integration of other refugees and their dependencies into host countries and communities. It creates opportunities for mutual learning, collaboration, and empowerment, ultimately fostering more inclusive and cohesive societies. Keywords: Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons, integration challenges, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial behaviour, social entrepreneur, professional development, upskilling and reskilling, social welfare.