On 7 August 2024, the Centre for Social Integration signed a SOCO grant agreement No. 2024-1-LT01-KA210-ADU-000254733, Erasmus+, with the Foundation for Educational Exchange Support for the project ” Stress Out Chill Out: a digital sharing and mobility exchange for women professionals: exploring common mechanisms to reduce stress, increase positivity and cope with work-related anxiety”, with the support of the Foundation for Educational Exchange Support.
The aim of the SOCO project is to empower migrant women who are experiencing war-related stress and the challenges of living abroad. It is a programme to empower women from Ukraine who face the twin challenges of war-related stress and the difficulties of living abroad. The aim of the initiative is to help these women reduce stress, build resilience and overcome anxiety.
The SOCO project aims to have a lasting impact on the mental well-being of Ukrainian women and can also be extended to support other vulnerable groups. A comprehensive SOCO manual will be produced for a wide audience to ensure that the benefits of the project will be sustained beyond its lifetime. Stressed Out, Chill Out (SOCO) is a European project for Ukrainian women aged 25-55 who were forced to move abroad because of the war and are now struggling to find their feet in the new reality of Lithuania, Croatia, Greece and Ukraine. It aims to reach women affected by the war, as well as working mothers, women at different stages of their careers, professionals working across Europe, and people belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups.
The project will be implemented with partners from Croatia (Talent Zone Croatia) and Greece (POLITIKO KENTRO EKPAIDEYTIKON LARISAS).
The duration of the project is 12 months.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor National Agency can be held responsible for them.
SOCO Partners Meeting in Greece
The SOCO (Stress Out, Chill Out) project’s international partners’ meeting in Greece took place in Larissa from 14-17 January 2025.
Project partners from Lithuania, Croatia and Greece shared good practices, examples from their countries and ideas that could help reduce stress and promote psychological well-being for women fleeing war. We had the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Koutsocherou Temporary Accommodation Centre (for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, etc.), where we spent some inspiring moments with the kindergarten children of the refugee camp and their mums. The encounters and experiences of this visit proved that even in the most difficult circumstances, children and their mothers can radiate hope and strength.
Final SOCO seminar and dissemination events
The final SOCO seminar and dissemination events took place on 6-9 May 2025. We welcomed special guests to the Social Integration Centre – SOCO project partners from Talent Zone Croatia in Croatia and Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Εκπαιδευτικών Ν. The meeting began with an inspiring seminar on non-violent communication, led by lecturer Aistė Batūraitė-Bunka. Project partner Anita Kovacevic from Croatia presented the activities and results of the SOCO project to those gathered in person and remotely. In the afternoon, we visited the Ukrainian Integration Centre ‘Malva’. After lunch, we visited the Ukrainian Integration Centre ‘Malva’.
On the second day of the meeting, we visited the Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy. We were warmly welcomed by Dr. Regina Karvelienė, Deputy Director for Studies at the Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy, who told us about the integration of foreign students at the institution. She shared valuable experience on how to create a friendly and inclusive environment for foreigners – from providing accommodation to community events and mentoring programmes.
We also visited the Kibirkštis children’s club, a branch of the Šiauliai Art School.
Deputy Head of Education Dr. Renata Veršinskienė told us about the wide range of artistic activities carried out there.
The SOCO project is funded by the European Union.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor National Agency can be held responsible for them.
Project results
We are proud of the Erasmus+ project SOCO – Stressed Out, Chill Out – a small-scale partnership for migrant and refugee women (especially from Ukraine) facing stress, anxiety and social isolation in Europe. The SOCO project has created an engaging digital learning environment for mental well-being (stress reduction, mindfulness, resilience).
Interactive version of the guide (perfect for NGOs and teachers)
SOCO was implemented in Lithuania, Croatia and Greece, taking into account the specific needs of each country:
Lithuania – Social Integration Centre Need: simple, mobile-friendly, culturally sensitive stress management tools for refugee women.
Croatia – Top Ritual Need: accessible, easily available digital content to support migrant women with limited language and institutional opportunities.
Greece – Politistiko Kentro Ekpaideytikon Larisas Need: Structured, step-by-step mental health tools that can be co-delivered by NGOs, educators and mentors.
The SOCO project is funded by the European Union.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor National Agency can be held responsible for them.