Digital Skills Build Stronger, Supportive Communities

Once past the first point of emergency, integration into a new society is not limited to finding – as basic as the need is – only a safe place to live. It’s also about access to services, employment, and a sense of community, too. For many Ukrainians who relocated to Estonia following the full-scale war launched by Russia, digital skills can be the key to more easily addressing the needs of this new reality.

The DEUCE project, led by the e-Governance Academy and funded by the U.S. Department of State, has done great in supporting this transition by empowering Ukrainian refugees with digital skills, strengthening their self-sufficiency, and training community resilience.

At the heart of the initiative are “digital envoys” – volunteers, trained to help fellow community members better engage with Estonia’s digital society. Through targeted mini-projects, including tools to prevent scams , improve access to local services , and enhance job market readiness , we explore what digital inclusion encompasses with Dmytro Khutkyy , Expert in Governance & Engagement at e-Governance Academy, and DEUCE digital envoy Olena Denysenko , also Analyst in Political Studies at Tartu University.