Volya

A Refugee Aid App

Problem

Refugees are put into vulnerable positions when they are forcibly displaced from their home. This is a problem because it results in poor health, societal breakdown, social unrest, crime and other socio-economic implications.

VALIDATE

PROTOTYPE

Solution

By creating an app that is clear, organized and informative, we can provide Ukrainian refugees with access to essential resources like jobs, shelter, education, health services - for an easier transition into Spanish life.

DISCOVER

Desk Research
Takeaways

I feel vulnerable in Spain, it seems like nobody wants to help me.

(Ukrainian Refugee, Facebook group, 2022)

Two female Ukrainian refugees claim they were the victims of a hoax phone call, claiming to be from the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).

(Alex Trelinski, The Olive Press, 2022)

Ukrainians, due to various circumstances, were forced to leave the hostel provided by the state ahead of time, or the housing of the Spaniards who sheltered them - and ended up, sometimes with children, on the street without any means of subsistence.

(Victor Cheretsky, RadioFreedom, 2022)

Root Cause Analysis

How Might We?

HMW help forced migrants with health issues?

HMW provide care for children of forced migrants?

HMW help refugees with the legal process?

HMW make it easier for people to help immigrants?

HMW help refugees find jobs and training?

HMW connect refugees with affordable housing?

HMW help refugees learn Spanish and start using it?

HMW inform refugees about and connect them with resource providers?

HMW provide therapy and psychological assistance?

User Interviews

Where: As evidenced source of data, our team went to the biggest Ukrainian refugee transition center in Spain - CREADE.

Who: As Ukrainian men are legally bound to remain in the country, our research focused upon women.

Why: The objective of these discovery interviews was to empathize with refugees and understand their main frustrations and fears.

*All quotes shared are translated from Russian and all interviewees remain anonymous*

I want to find a shelter but nobody is guiding me.

ANON

Without Spanish, they only offer me jobs in labour.

ANON

I've been waiting for a doctor appointment for five months already.

ANON

As a woman, I feel unsafe to live with 5 men in the same room, especially men from different cultures.

They promised Spanish language courses, but we are still waiting.

ANON

What We Learned

Due to complications and systemic failures which naturally evolve from war, unfulfilled promises of providing safety upon arrival, clean shelter, reliable healthcare, and useful language courses for finding work, resulted in it becoming difficult for Ukrainian families to transition into Spanish life.

Further complications include, Ukrainian refugees that enter Spain finding themselves disoriented and confused about where to go, what to do and how to do it.

DEFINE

Competitive Analysis

Persona

happy-middle-aged-woman-relaxing-outside 2.png

BIO

GOALS

Olena Melnyk

"It is difficult to find a job, without knowing Spanish, that would help me afford better housing."

NEEDS

AGE

EDUCATION

OCCUPATION

KIDS

LANGUAGE

ORIGIN

PAIN

POINTS

Bachelor in Linguistics

Linguistics Professor

Ukrainian, English

Kyiv, Ukraine

Olena is from Kyiv. She arrived to Spain in the beginning of March with her daughter. They are currently staying at her daughter's friend's house in Barcelona, but will soon move to Málaga.

To have access to clear and verified information.
To have access to affordable and satisfying accommodation.
To get medical assistance in a faster and more efficient way.

A simple platform with essential information about public services in Spain.
Transparent coordination with medical services.
Reliable assistance with accommodation.

No clear information from both governmental and private organizations.
Accommodation is expensive and not accessible to Ukrainians.
Medical services are not provided efficiently.

Site Map

Card Sorting

User Flow

User Journey Map

IDEATE

Sketches

Style Guide

Low-Fidelity

High-Fidelity

VALIDATE

User Testing

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

Clear layout
Clear structure
Clear icons
Useful features
Easy navigation
Safe and friendly design

HELPFUL FEEDBACK

Needs Russian language option
“Only women” filter needs “and children”
Guidelines option is unclear
“Leisure & Culture” is unclear
Order of contents in “Work”

WHAT WE COULD IMPROVE

Add Russian language
Modify “Only women” filter
Clarify guidelines option
Clarify “Leisure & Culture”
Change order of contents in “Work”

Design Loop Solutions

Clarify guidelines option
Clarify “Leisure & Culture”

Add Russian language
Modify “Only women” filter

PROTOTYPE

ENGLISH

UKRAINIAN

THE TEAM

Although we have taken specific roles during the implementation of this project, each team member deserves credit for their contributions and dedication to all aspects of the process.