We’re excited to finally share something we’ve been working on behind the scenes: our new initiative called Making It in Eastern Europe, launching in January 2026.
The idea is simple: tell the stories of women across Central and Eastern Europe who are making things happen. Women who are creating, innovating, resisting, and building communities in ways that actually change lives. Because let’s be honest – most of the time, the region is only talked about in crises: corruption, democratic backsliding, political drama. And yes, these are real problems. But they don’t tell the whole story; there’s another angle. One about people taking action, making solutions, and proving that progress is possible.
About the Project
Making It in Eastern Europe is a multimedia project that combines long-form stories, interviews, and an interactive map. You’ll be able to follow women’s journeys, connect the dots, and see a network of solutions spreading across the region.
We want to highlight stories of real impact – women who aren’t just complaining about the system but are building alternatives, pushing back against old ideas about gender and power, and showing how change happens on the ground.
It’s also about community and collaboration. We will be working with early-career journalists and local correspondents who share a passion for feminist, solutions-oriented storytelling. They’ll help bring local perspectives and nuance to every story, and make sure this is a project that’s by the region, for the region.
Why Now
Civic space is shrinking, trust in institutions is low, and mainstream media often misses the small but meaningful acts of change happening every day. That’s why we think it’s so urgent to tell these stories.
We want to show that Eastern Europe is full of people who are creating real solutions, and women are leading many of them.
From community organisers and activists to creatives and social innovators, these are the women who are shaping their communities and proving that progress is possible.
Become a Local Correspondent
This is also about building a network. We’re looking for local correspondents who want to tell these stories from their own cities and towns. If you care about feminist, community-driven reporting and want to be part of a collaborative storytelling project, we want to hear from you.
Fill out the expression-of-interest form here. We’ll send you the guidelines, details, and next steps.
This is your chance to help us map, document, and share the women who are making it happen in Eastern Europe, and to be part of something that actually changes the conversation.
