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Mindspace: Ukrainians set up a mental fitness club in Italy
Here is an updated news item with contributions from our media partners: ⸻ A special space for support and recovery has opened in Italy — the first Mindspace mental fitness club. In these difficult times, many people need a place where they can pause, take a breath and find inner strength. Mindspace has become just such a safe space — for Ukrainians seeking psychological and emotional support far from home. The club’s founder is Oleksandr Mesetsko, a member of the CRASA APS association, a CBT consultant and coach. What makes Mindspace special? It is the first space in Italy to bring together specialists from various fields for a comprehensive and caring approach to mental wellbeing. The club is staffed by: adult and child psychologists, family counsellors, coaches, and experts in spiritual and physical practices and play therapy. The concept is based on a harmonious blend of modern evidence-based psychology, practical tools and spiritual approaches. This format offers a healthy alternative to traditional personal development: instead of an exhausting pursuit of results — gentle self-care and mindfulness. “There is no motivational pressure here — only support, clarity and direction,” emphasises the Mindspace team. Participants can choose a convenient format for interaction: individual consultations, group meetings or in-depth retreats to recharge their batteries. Come and meet us! The first public meeting and presentation of the club will take place as part of the UA Picnic on 1 May in Marchyanyze (Kampania). This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the team, experience the community atmosphere and take the first step towards your own mental health. The event’s information partner is UA Service HUB. Come along — you’re not alone, and looking after yourself really is important.
UA Service Hub expands across Italy and brings together new specialists
The UA Service Hub support platform for Ukrainians continues to grow rapidly, expanding both its geographical reach and its professional community. Today, the network already brings together registered professionals in various cities and regions across Italy: 📍 Milan 📍 Rome 📍 Naples 📍 Verona 📍 Abruzzo 👩💼 Who is joining the platform UA Service Hub is actively expanding with new specialists from various fields. Among them: • 📸 photographers • 🎥 videographers • 💆♀️ beauty therapists • 💆 massage therapists • 🛠 handymen • 🗺 professional guides 📈 What does this mean? The expansion of the platform means: more opportunities for Ukrainians in Italy; access to verified specialists in various cities; the formation of a strong professional community. As a reminder, the platform was created by the CRASA APS association on the basis of the website work.crasa.team. The mission of UA Service HUB is to help Ukrainian professionals find their clients: both among Ukrainians who have been forced to move abroad, and among Europeans open to a new level of service and collaboration.
Revival: the story of Ukrainian designer Victoria Fenix
We would like to introduce one of our registered users on the UA Service HUB platform – designer Viktoria Fenix. Before the full-scale war in Ukraine, Viktoria ran a successful fashion business, managing her own clothing production facility, fulfilling wholesale orders for women’s clothing and developing her own brand. She offered wedding dresses, evening gowns and designer clothing chosen by women for important occasions: weddings, celebrations and formal events. It was a brand associated with quality, elegance and a professional approach to design. After moving to Italy, to the Salerno region, Viktoria Fenix literally started from scratch. She relaunched her business under the brand name Abiti da Sposa Salerno. Today she offers: • bespoke wedding dresses • bespoke evening dresses • hire of wedding and evening dresses in Italy • bespoke dressmaking for special occasions. Her work combines Ukrainian craftsmanship with Italian fashion and style, making it unique in the local market. Viktoria Fenix works with both Italian clients and the Ukrainian diaspora in Italy. This is the choice for those seeking exclusive wedding dresses in Italy, created with heart and soul. Aside from her professional life, Viktoria is a single mum raising her son on her own. Her personal story adds depth to the brand: she is not just a fashion designer, but an example of successful integration in Italy, building a business from scratch, and female empowerment.
What specialists are in short supply in Europe
The European labour market is facing a serious shortage of personnel, especially in the fields of IT, artificial intelligence, medicine and engineering. The study covered 41 countries and about 39,000 employers. The results showed that about 7 out of 10 companies have difficulty finding employees. 🔹 Countries with the greatest shortage of staff 📈 Employers in the following countries have the greatest difficulty finding workers: 🇸🇰 Slovakia - 87% of companies are unable to fill vacancies 🇬🇷 Greece - 84% 🇩🇪 Germany - 83% 🇵🇹 Portugal - 82% 📉 A smaller shortage of workers was recorded: 🇵🇱 Poland — 57% 🇫🇮 Finland — 60% 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — 61% 🔹 The problem is growing rapidly Back in 2006, only about 40% of employers reported difficulties in hiring. In 2026, this figure rose to 72%, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 🔹 The most scarce industries The most difficult areas for companies to find employees are in the following areas: ▪ IT — 75% ▪ Hotel and restaurant business — 74% ▪ Healthcare — 74% ▪ Scientific and technical services — 73% 🔹 What specialists are needed most In many European countries, the greatest demand is now for specialists in the field of artificial intelligence and IT. This is especially true in France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. 🔹 Where engineers are most sought after The demand for engineers is particularly high in the following countries: 🇸🇪 Sweden — 26% of vacancies 🇳🇱 Netherlands — 28% 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — 31% 🇸🇰 Slovakia — 31% 🔹 Demand for logistics and HR In some countries, the shortage is also related to other professions: 🇧🇪 Belgium — logistics (19%) 🇮🇪 Ireland — logistics (18%) 🇳🇴 Norway — logistics (18%) 🇬🇷 Greece — HR professionals (21%)