The key to resilience and prosperity, even in hard times
By Kristina Mänd, Senior Expert and Project Lead
Digital skills are a superpower, transforming lives and creating opportunities. For Ukrainian refugees in Estonia, navigating two advanced digital ecosystems – Estonian and Ukrainian – can be daunting.
As part of the DEUCE project supported by the US Embassy in Estonia, eGA experts stepped in to address these challenges. eGA empowered Ukrainian communities through its network of young digital envoys.
With 31 envoys trained and mentored, the initiative has reached 475 individuals directly and influenced 40,000 more through broader outreach. Thirty new envoys will continue in the programme in 2025 to build confidence, foster digital resilience and remove real-world barriers.
The project’s strength lies in its innovative approach. Through open recruitment and service design workshops, volunteers formed teams, identified problems and developed practical solutions to assist fellow Ukrainians.
Four standout initiatives illustrate their impact:
- Tartu Help Bot: A Telegram-based tool offering 24/7 answers to common questions about life in Estonia.
- Scam Map: A community-driven resource educating users about fraud.
- Professional empowerment: Workshops enhancing job-readiness and digital skills.
- Easy Stuudium: Support for families navigating Estonia’s digital education systems.
DEUCE proves that leveraging local expertise builds stronger, more inclusive societies. Estonia’s leadership in digital innovation demonstrates that empowering individuals strengthens the collective.