In Lithuania, the field is still developing. Many migrant women are motivated to start businesses, but they face practical barriers. Accessing reliable information, finding mentors, navigating administrative procedures, and building confidence in a new cultural context can be challenging. Supportive spaces are essential for experimentation, learning, and growth.
Recognizing this need, WISER organized Communities of Practice (CoP) meetings in Lithuania in December. NGOs, municipal authorities, business mentors, business support organizations, and migrant women came together to discuss challenges, explore social entrepreneurship opportunities, and strengthen integration policies. Participants shared experiences, identified gaps, and co-created practical solutions. Representatives from the Panevėžys Women in Business Network played a key role, offering mentorship, helping build professional networks, and sharing knowledge with aspiring migrant women entrepreneurs. Their involvement showed how local actors can make a tangible impact.
Social entrepreneurship is not a niche activity. It addresses real social needs while empowering women to participate fully in society. As Lithuania and Europe face labour shortages, demographic shifts, and the need for social cohesion, the potential of migrant women entrepreneurs is increasingly important. Their ventures strengthen communities, foster cross-cultural exchange, and provide role models for other women considering entrepreneurship.
Integration should not be viewed only as adaptation. It is also about the value migrant women can create. Initiatives like WISER show that meaningful change requires collaboration between businesses, NGOs, policymakers, and the women themselves. Combining dialogue, mentorship, and practical support transforms individual potential into lasting social and economic impact.
Across Europe, structured support for migrant women’s entrepreneurship is growing. Programs increasingly combine training, mentorship, international networking, and a focus on social impact. WISER illustrates how mentorship and community dialogue can unlock both economic and social potential, creating sustainable opportunities for women and the communities they contribute to.