Focus Area
Women’s Empowerment
Location
Austria
Beneficiaries
Displaced Ukrainian women, migrants integrating into Austrian society, multi-stakeholder communities seeking streamlined support services, and young female musicians.
Safavi's Role
Directly managed and co-funded initiatives, with partnerships including AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology) and local organizations
Key Impact
Hundreds of Ukrainian women supported through employment, language, and integration services. Strategic development of Austria’s modern data space to better support migrant needs. Scholarships awarded to aspiring female musicians.
Project Overview
The Safavi Impact Institute is a philanthropic organization committed to unlocking human potential—particularly among women and migrants—through a strategic portfolio of empowerment, education, and integration programs. Addressing challenges such as professional displacement, cultural and linguistic barriers, and systemic inefficiencies in migrant support, Safavi Impact Institute deploys targeted solutions that drive both personal transformation and societal progress.
Beneficiary Profile
Safavi initiatives primarily benefit:
Displaced Ukrainian women with advanced education and career backgrounds who are rebuilding their lives in Austria
Migrants and support organizations working within a complex, multi-stakeholder Austrian landscape in need of streamlined, modernized services
Young female musicians pursuing professional training and academic placement in Austria’s cultural and educational ecosystem
These groups are often navigating displacement, war trauma, unfamiliar bureaucracies, and barriers to equitable employment or education in their host country.
Safavi's Role
While Safavi's board of directors established and support the vision of the Institute, its mission is led day-to-day by a dedicated team on the ground:
Maryana Voronovych (Project Management & Communications)
Svitlana Teliuk (Community Outreach, IT & Office Management)
Andrea Pur (Project Management & Labor Market Integration)
Sabrina Ploch, Andriiana Raikova, Zsuzsanna Szalai, and Hana Knopp (German Trainers)
Natasha Bousa (Consultant & Integration Expert)
The Institute:
Funds and operates programs like the Ukrainian Women’s Initiative and Young Female Musicians Initiative
Employs a specialized team of project managers, trainers, and integration consultants who deliver hands-on services
Partners with institutions like the AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology) to co-develop systemic innovations, including Austria’s first modern data space for migrant integration
Safavi’s resources include financial contributions, strategic oversight, and organizational leadership from Imelda, Francesco, their daughters Madeline and Olivia, and Beatrice, who initiated and leads the Young Female Musicians Initiative, to ensure integrity, impact, and sustainability.
Media
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: The Safavi Impact Institute
Impact Achieved
Ukrainian Women’s Initiative: Delivered job readiness services (application support, interview training, language courses), emotional empowerment groups, and personalized career mentoring—helping over 100+ women secure aligned employment in Austria
Young Female Musicians Initiative: Distributed scholarships and internships at prestigious Austrian institutions, enabling career continuity for displaced music students
AIT Cooperation: Launched a pioneering effort to digitalize Austria’s multi-agency migrant support infrastructure—laying the groundwork for more responsive and equitable national systems
These outcomes reflect a combination of human-centric transformation and national-level structural reform.
Purpose & Signifigance
The Safavi Impact Institute exists to dignify and empower the displaced, ensuring that no capable individual is lost to systemic neglect. This commitment is rooted in the Safavi family’s belief in equity, compassion, and innovation. Each initiative reflects their conviction that empowered individuals don’t just survive—they thrive, contribute, and elevate the societies that welcome them.
By equipping people with tools, skills, and networks, the Institute embodies its ethos: Empowerment through Access. Integration through Dignity. Progress through Opportunity.
Future Outlook
The Institute plans to:
Expand integration services to other migrant communities in Austria and beyond
Continue scaling the AIT data space model across sectors and regions
Explore digital learning platforms to broaden access to German and career readiness courses
Deepen its scholarship and internship pipeline for female creatives and professionals
Through these next steps, the Safavi Impact Institute continues building a future where migration is not a setback—but a launchpad for possibility.
