Creating a space for recovery and new beginnings together

Photos by Dragan Mujan

We turned one working day into a day of shared creation together with the team from IKEA, who, through their community support program, stood alongside us and helped improve the space where we provide support to women and girls who have experienced human trafficking and exploitation. This day reminded us once again how important it is to build connections that go beyond formal support, when companies not only contribute, but become partners in creating meaningful and lasting change.

As part of this collaboration, with the support of 15 dedicated IKEA employees, we improved our studio and the Reintegration Center, spaces that play a key role in recovery, empowerment, and rebuilding the lives of women and girls who have survived violence and trafficking.

What makes this initiative particularly important is not only the physical transformation of the space, but also the way it was created. Through joint work, exchange of experiences, and open dialogue, we had the opportunity to learn from one another how to design spaces that are not only functional but also safe, supportive, and dignified.

The improved space is already making a tangible difference in our work: it enables higher-quality delivery of psychosocial support, provides a safer environment for individual and group work, and creates a space where women can build skills, strengthen confidence, and take their first steps towards economic independence. This progress is directly linked to the further development of our social enterprise Bagel Bejgl, through which women gain work experience and access to real employment opportunities.

For Atina, which has been developing support programs based on trust, continuity, and individualized approaches for over two decades, partnerships like this carry added value. They not only transform the space we work in but also expand the reach and quality of the support we can provide.

We are grateful to the IKEA team for their energy, dedication, and the time they invested. For us, this was not just a successful day, but the beginning of a collaboration with the potential to create long-term change in the lives of the women we support.

Because a space is not just a place, it is the beginning of recovery, the restoration of dignity, and the creation of new opportunities.

More photos: IKEA u ATINI | atina