On 30 October 2025, the partners of the VOICE project – Vocational Opportunities and Integration for Refugee Community Empowerment met in Pescara (Italy) for the Second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM2), co-hosted by EPIC and the Università degli Studi “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara (UdA).
Held at UdA’s campus in Viale Pindaro, the meeting brought together all partners to review the project’s progress to date, officially conclude Work Package 2 (WP2) and move into Work Package 3 (WP3). Throughout the day, the consortium also discussed project management updates, dissemination activities, planning for piloting (WP4), and the overall strategy for continuity and visibility (WP5), ensuring alignment across all technical, administrative and strategic components of VOICE.
WP2 Closure and Transition to WP3
Partners reviewed the final outcomes of WP2, including the Aggregated Report, the Skills Gap Matrix, and the Repository of Social Innovation Initiatives now online on the VOICE OER platform. These outputs provide the foundation for the new training curriculum to be developed under WP3, where partners will adapt and localise learning resources from previous EU projects.
The meeting also offered space to examine cross-country insights, implications for training design, translation and accessibility requirements and an early roadmap for the testing phase foreseen in 2026.
A Special Highlight: Cooperativa Sociale Aurora “Valori & Sapori” Onlus
A distinctive and inspiring moment of TPM2 was the participation of Cooperativa Sociale Aurora “Valori & Sapori” Onlus, a Pescara-based organisation offering meaningful employment opportunities to people with Down syndrome.
Aurora contributed both as:
- coffee-break provider, showcasing their inclusive work model, and
- stakeholder, sharing their story and expertise in social innovation and microcredit, which deeply resonated with the VOICE mission
Their involvement created a powerful bridge between European project work and impactful local practices.
More info: https://www.avscoop.it/chi-siamo.html
Next Steps: Bringing VOICE Training to Life
With WP2 completed, TPM2 marked the operational launch of WP3, which will focus on designing accessible, multilingual, modular training resources aligned with the needs identified in the mapping exercise. These materials will later be tested under WP4 with refugee learners and hosting communities across partner countries.
The Pescara meeting was characterised by constructive dialogue and shared commitment – further strengthened by the warm and inclusive environment created by the Italian hosts.
About VOICE – follow us
VOICE is a Social Innovation initiative co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF+), designed to strengthen the social and professional inclusion of Ukrainian refugees across Europe.
The project brings together partners from four countries by combining social innovation initiatives with EU-level collaboration. VOICE supports resilient, skills-based integration for displaced communities.
Project Website:www.voice-inclusion.eu
Email:voiceesfproject@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voiceinclusion/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voice-inclusion/
