A Win-Win for All: The Refugee Fellowship Initiative helps refugees gain access to the labour market

In 2021, Shoaib arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania, after he was forced to flee his home country of Afghanistan. Like many other refugees, he had a hard time finding employment in his new country, despite extensive work experience in Afghanistan.
In the spring of 2023, he was selected to participate in the newly established Refugee Fellowship Initiative where he was matched with the fast growing online second-hand clothing company Vinted.
The Refugee Fellowship Initiative was set up by UNHCR, the Lithuanian Diversity Charter, and the Lithuanian Red Cross in collaboration with four international organizations and companies. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between highly skilled refugees and employers who can benefit from their expertise. Through this programme, qualified refugees are matched with companies or organizations where they can gain practical work experience. Through the initiative, refugees gain experience in the Lithuanian labour market, and Lithuanian businesses benefit from being connected with professionals from abroad - in a win-win situation for the refugee fellows, businesses and society as a whole.
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