According to UNHCR, women and girls represent 62% of the Ukrainian refugee population, while children account for a further 36%[1], highlighting the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and families.
In response, the Soroptimists of Estoril-Cascais launched Sunflower Tales – Stories of Resilience, an innovative participatory arts project supporting Ukrainian women rebuilding their lives in Portugal. Funded through the SIE Disaster Recovery Fund and developed in partnership with the Cascais Municipal Council, the initiative provided a safe and creative space where displaced women could process their experiences, strengthen their confidence and reconnect with a sense of hope and belonging.
The project brought together 11 Ukrainian women living in Cascais and the surrounding area. Through a series of workshops, participants transformed meaningful objects brought from Ukraine into written stories, visual artworks and textile creations. Using creative writing, drawing, collage, embroidery, appliqué and felting techniques, they developed new artistic, communication and interpersonal skills while building supportive relationships with one another.
The completed works were presented in a public exhibition at the São Domingos de Rana Library, curated and installed with the active involvement of the participants. The creative journey was also captured in a documentary film featuring interviews with seven of the women, ensuring their voices and experiences could reach wider audiences.
By sharing personal stories of displacement, loss and resilience, the women challenged stereotypes surrounding refugees and fostered empathy, intercultural dialogue and social inclusion. The exhibition and documentary highlighted the often-overlooked experiences of displaced women while demonstrating the transformative power of creativity in supporting recovery and empowerment.
Sunflower Tales shows how storytelling and art can become catalysts for healing, dignity and social change. By transforming individual experiences into collective understanding, the Soroptimists of Estoril-Cascais created a lasting legacy of resilience, hope and empowerment.
Additional information
Project achieved by:
- Supporting displaced Ukrainian women through participatory arts.
- Amplifying women’s voices through a public exhibition and documentary.
- Promoting social inclusion and intercultural dialogue within the community.
Women & girls reached: 11
Funds raised by the Club: €9,795
Partner(s): Cascais Municipal Council, Portugal
[1] https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2025-01/Ukraine%20Situation%202025.pdf?utm_source