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In September 2026, WAKE returned to Vilnius, Lithuania, for the third edition of Tech2Empower® for Ukraine. The program supports Ukrainians displaced by war in building on their tech and leadership skills, both to grow as professionals and to strengthen their communities. Advisors volunteer their time and expertise to work alongside participants, with a focus on two-way learning and knowledge exchange. This work is made possible by our ongoing partnership with Ukreate Hub, whose insights into the Ukrainian community’s needs help us design and deliver the program.
Tech2Empower for Ukraine created impact through two key initiatives:
a) Ukrainian-led NGOs partnered with skilled volunteer Advisors on social impact projects aimed at strengthening their organizations, especially their programs and services centered on support for Ukrainian women; and
b) Advisors led interactive workshops for Ukrainian women leaders, enhancing their leadership, business, and tech skills.
Gender equality
Supporting women and girls displaced by war
Refugee and immigration services
Peace and community building
Creating networks of support
Over three days, the Tech2Empower Impact Challenge brings together Advisors and NGO partners for intensive, customized project work on a challenge proposed by each participating NGO. This year, we partnered with four Ukrainian-led organizations based in Estonia and Lithuania, including one grassroots initiative. Each has a distinct mission and project goals, united by a shared aim to support Ukrainian refugees.
Learn more about the projects they worked on:
PURK Kool is an educational, cultural, and community hub in Pärnu, Estonia, supporting Ukrainians as they integrate locally while preserving their cultural heritage. During the Impact Challenge, the team clarified their vision, defined three main pillars, and created a digital-development roadmap to strengthen their online presence and streamline workflows, freeing up more time for programs and direct work with participants.Implementation will allow their small team to spend more time on community activities and partnerships.
NUKC “Prosperis” supports displaced Ukrainians, young people, and other underserved communities through theatre and community work. Their project aimed to move from a founder- and volunteer-driven model toward a more sustainable, strategy-driven structure. During the Impact Challenge, the team mapped the organizational functions needed for sustainable growth and clarified roles across project management, grant writing, fundraising, partnerships, communications, finance, and operations, while considering which functions could be supported by standardized processes, AI, external specialists, or volunteers. Implementation will free up capacity to focus on the communities they serve and support more consistent, higher-quality programs.
This was Open Nations’ third time participating in the Impact Challenge! Open Nations provides emotional support to Ukrainian refugees, fostering a sense of safety, belonging, and community. Their project focused on positioning and communications, with the aim of articulating who they are and who they need to reach. During the Impact Challenge, the team produced an inclusive positioning statement covering problem, solution, and proof points, mapped their target audiences, and developed calls to action for each audience. These deliverables give Open Nations a clearer message for advocacy, partnerships, and fundraising, and a way to test whether their positioning matches stakeholder needs.
UB.e Ukrainian Beat is a Vilnius-based grassroots community founded in 2023 that unites Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and international DJs and artists to create music events fostering cultural integration, well-being, and cross-cultural dialogue. Their project aimed to build a 1–2 year strategy covering team roles, marketing, fundraising and opportunity scouting, and a website. Key deliverables included a website example, a 2026–2027 roadmap document, and event checklists and sample agendas. Implementation will help the team move forward and increase their impact on the community through their activities.
Tech2Empower for Ukraine Leadership Day brought Advisors and Ukrainian women living in Vilnius together for an interactive day of learning through tech and leadership workshops, co-hosted with Ukreate Hub at the European Institute for Gender Equality. Participants built practical leadership and technology skills to bring back to their workplaces and businesses. The day opened with small-group conversations on leadership and identity, followed by hands-on workshops on topics including creative decision making, professional branding on LinkedIn, networking, emotional literacy, design thinking, strategic communications, and practical and human-centered uses of AI. A midday plenary on emotional and positive intelligence for women leaders in times of change brought the full group together. The day concluded with an immersive cultural experience, as participants listened to Bandura music and reflected on what they had learned.
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Tech2Empower for Ukraine 2026 brought together Ukrainian-led organizations and Ukrainian women leaders in Vilnius to work alongside volunteer Advisors. Women from different backgrounds and contexts worked side by side, and all participants left with new skills and a fresh perspective on the important work they do. We are deeply grateful to Ukreate Hub, our Advisors, and the NGO partners and participants who shared their time, expertise, and experiences. WAKE remains committed to standing with Ukrainian refugees and the organizations supporting them, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
