By Dora Heracleous
SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education
Across Europe’s rural regions, migrant women are quietly reshaping communities — often while navigating significant barriers. These women arrive with rich personal histories, skills, and aspirations, yet face exclusion due to language gaps, limited childcare access, insecure legal status, and social isolation. Without targeted support, their potential remains untapped — a missed opportunity for both inclusion and local development.
The Together We Can (TWC) project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, has offered a compelling counter-narrative. Focused on promoting the socio-occupational inclusion of migrant women in rural contexts across five European countries — including Cyprus, Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Italy — the project demonstrates what becomes possible when community, training, and networking intersect.
One key element of the project has been training programs that integrate flexible language learning, legal support, mentoring, and skills development, often in collaboration with NGOs, businesses, and human rights organizations. These efforts have not only empowered women with knowledge but also with confidence and community belonging.
In Cyprus, the Together We Can training scheme has created vital spaces for empowerment and connection. As one participant shared about her experience:
“Before I joined the training, I felt invisible. Now, I’ve found my voice. I’m not only learning — I’m helping others feel seen.”
Equally transformative have been community networking events like Spin the Clock – Find Your Spot, where migrant women meet directly with local employers, NGO representatives, and public officials. These events offer more than connection — they unlock opportunities. As one participant shared, “At Spin the Clock, I met someone who helped me apply for a job. It wasn’t just about opportunity — it was about someone believing in me.”
The stories collected through TWC’s participatory evaluation underscore a powerful truth: when migrant women are equipped with knowledge and surrounded by a supportive ecosystem, they flourish — and so do their communities.
What makes the approach effective?
✅ Flexible language and literacy training, often paired with childcare
✅ Mentorship programs led by migrant women who’ve already walked the path
✅ Partnerships with businesses to offer real employment routes and raise awareness on diversity and equity
✅ Multi-stakeholder collaboration between local authorities, NGOs, and grassroots networks
Investing in these models is not charity — it’s smart policy. It helps rural regions retain talent, fosters integration, and strengthens local economies with diverse, skilled, and motivated contributors.
As Europe seeks sustainable models for integration and workforce development, the solutions must be participatory, inclusive, and locally rooted.
The Call to Action
We urge decision-makers, employers, and civil society to join forces and build on the momentum created by projects like Together We Can. Inclusion is not achieved through top-down mandates alone — it thrives when communities co-create solutions and migrant women are not just included but empowered as changemakers.
Europe’s rural future is diverse, capable, and full of potential. Let’s ensure it’s also inclusive.
