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UA Service HUB presented at the Ukrainian Book Festival in Milan
As part of the Second Ukrainian Book Festival in Milan, the UA Service HUB platform was presented during a panel discussion as a promising digital tool for finding and connecting Ukrainian professionals abroad. The initiative sparked interest among both the panellists and festival guests, highlighting the importance of developing professional Ukrainian networks in an international context. As a reminder, the Second Ukrainian Book Festival in Milan took place on 30–31 May — a major international cultural event that brought together Ukrainian and Italian audiences around literature, art, photography, fashion and intercultural dialogue. Over the course of two days, the historic Villa Scheibler became a space for the Ukrainian word, creativity and international cooperation. The festival was attended by around thirty Ukrainian authors from various European countries, as well as nearly twenty Ukrainian and Italian publishing houses. The programme featured book presentations, creative meetings, discussions, exhibitions and cultural initiatives aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture abroad. Business Woman magazine served as the festival’s media partner and was prominently featured in the event’s programme. Nadiya Bereziuk, director of the magazine’s Italian office, played a significant role in organising the event and also moderated a series of panel discussions on cultural diplomacy, women’s leadership and international communication. One of the key events was the panel discussion ‘The Global Voice of Ukrainian Women: Leadership, Media and Women’s Diplomacy in Times of Change’. It was attended by the directors of the magazine’s international offices in Italy, Germany, Portugal, Hungary and Slovenia. The participants discussed the role of women’s leadership in the face of global challenges, the development of Ukrainian communities abroad, and the significance of the media as a tool of cultural diplomacy. During the discussion, Zhanna Zhukova, President of the CRASA APS association, also presented the charity project “Calendar of Ukrainian Women in Italy”, aimed at supporting and raising the profile of active Ukrainian women in Europe, and spoke about the UA Service HUB platform. The festival was organised by Biblioteca Ukraina Più – Milano and Ucraina Più – Milano. The festival once again confirmed that Ukrainian books and cultural initiatives remain a powerful tool for international dialogue, the preservation of identity, and the unification of Ukrainians in various countries around the world. As a reminder, in March, the UA Service HUB platform, as a project of the CRASA APS association, was presented at a forum in Rimini. The UA Service Hub platform (work.crasa.team) allows professionals to create their own profile, showcase their services, upload a portfolio and start promoting themselves without significant costs. The service is geared towards both offline services in Italy and online work across Europe, which significantly expands opportunities for users. The platform’s developers and representatives of the CRASA APS association are calling on Ukrainian professionals currently working in Italy to join the service today. Registering on the work.crasa.team website opens up the opportunity to effectively promote their services in the near future, not only within the Ukrainian community but also among Italian clients.
Mindspace: Ukrainians set up a mental fitness club in Italy
Here is an updated news item with contributions from our media partners: ⸻ A special space for support and recovery has opened in Italy — the first Mindspace mental fitness club. In these difficult times, many people need a place where they can pause, take a breath and find inner strength. Mindspace has become just such a safe space — for Ukrainians seeking psychological and emotional support far from home. The club’s founder is Oleksandr Mesetsko, a member of the CRASA APS association, a CBT consultant and coach. What makes Mindspace special? It is the first space in Italy to bring together specialists from various fields for a comprehensive and caring approach to mental wellbeing. The club is staffed by: adult and child psychologists, family counsellors, coaches, and experts in spiritual and physical practices and play therapy. The concept is based on a harmonious blend of modern evidence-based psychology, practical tools and spiritual approaches. This format offers a healthy alternative to traditional personal development: instead of an exhausting pursuit of results — gentle self-care and mindfulness. “There is no motivational pressure here — only support, clarity and direction,” emphasises the Mindspace team. Participants can choose a convenient format for interaction: individual consultations, group meetings or in-depth retreats to recharge their batteries. Come and meet us! The first public meeting and presentation of the club will take place as part of the UA Picnic on 1 May in Marchyanyze (Kampania). This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the team, experience the community atmosphere and take the first step towards your own mental health. The event’s information partner is UA Service HUB. Come along — you’re not alone, and looking after yourself really is important.
UA Service Hub expands across Italy and brings together new specialists
The UA Service Hub support platform for Ukrainians continues to grow rapidly, expanding both its geographical reach and its professional community. Today, the network already brings together registered professionals in various cities and regions across Italy: 📍 Milan 📍 Rome 📍 Naples 📍 Verona 📍 Abruzzo 👩💼 Who is joining the platform UA Service Hub is actively expanding with new specialists from various fields. Among them: • 📸 photographers • 🎥 videographers • 💆♀️ beauty therapists • 💆 massage therapists • 🛠 handymen • 🗺 professional guides 📈 What does this mean? The expansion of the platform means: more opportunities for Ukrainians in Italy; access to verified specialists in various cities; the formation of a strong professional community. As a reminder, the platform was created by the CRASA APS association on the basis of the website work.crasa.team. The mission of UA Service HUB is to help Ukrainian professionals find their clients: both among Ukrainians who have been forced to move abroad, and among Europeans open to a new level of service and collaboration.
Revival: the story of Ukrainian designer Victoria Fenix
We would like to introduce one of our registered users on the UA Service HUB platform – designer Viktoria Fenix. Before the full-scale war in Ukraine, Viktoria ran a successful fashion business, managing her own clothing production facility, fulfilling wholesale orders for women’s clothing and developing her own brand. She offered wedding dresses, evening gowns and designer clothing chosen by women for important occasions: weddings, celebrations and formal events. It was a brand associated with quality, elegance and a professional approach to design. After moving to Italy, to the Salerno region, Viktoria Fenix literally started from scratch. She relaunched her business under the brand name Abiti da Sposa Salerno. Today she offers: • bespoke wedding dresses • bespoke evening dresses • hire of wedding and evening dresses in Italy • bespoke dressmaking for special occasions. Her work combines Ukrainian craftsmanship with Italian fashion and style, making it unique in the local market. Viktoria Fenix works with both Italian clients and the Ukrainian diaspora in Italy. This is the choice for those seeking exclusive wedding dresses in Italy, created with heart and soul. Aside from her professional life, Viktoria is a single mum raising her son on her own. Her personal story adds depth to the brand: she is not just a fashion designer, but an example of successful integration in Italy, building a business from scratch, and female empowerment.
What specialists are in short supply in Europe
The European labour market is facing a serious shortage of personnel, especially in the fields of IT, artificial intelligence, medicine and engineering. The study covered 41 countries and about 39,000 employers. The results showed that about 7 out of 10 companies have difficulty finding employees. 🔹 Countries with the greatest shortage of staff 📈 Employers in the following countries have the greatest difficulty finding workers: 🇸🇰 Slovakia - 87% of companies are unable to fill vacancies 🇬🇷 Greece - 84% 🇩🇪 Germany - 83% 🇵🇹 Portugal - 82% 📉 A smaller shortage of workers was recorded: 🇵🇱 Poland — 57% 🇫🇮 Finland — 60% 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — 61% 🔹 The problem is growing rapidly Back in 2006, only about 40% of employers reported difficulties in hiring. In 2026, this figure rose to 72%, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 🔹 The most scarce industries The most difficult areas for companies to find employees are in the following areas: ▪ IT — 75% ▪ Hotel and restaurant business — 74% ▪ Healthcare — 74% ▪ Scientific and technical services — 73% 🔹 What specialists are needed most In many European countries, the greatest demand is now for specialists in the field of artificial intelligence and IT. This is especially true in France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. 🔹 Where engineers are most sought after The demand for engineers is particularly high in the following countries: 🇸🇪 Sweden — 26% of vacancies 🇳🇱 Netherlands — 28% 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — 31% 🇸🇰 Slovakia — 31% 🔹 Demand for logistics and HR In some countries, the shortage is also related to other professions: 🇧🇪 Belgium — logistics (19%) 🇮🇪 Ireland — logistics (18%) 🇳🇴 Norway — logistics (18%) 🇬🇷 Greece — HR professionals (21%)