“There was a time when women had no resources or were putting their lives on hold, waiting to return home. They believed it would happen tomorrow, the day after, or in a month. This led to secondary trauma when they realized it wouldn’t be soon, or there was nowhere to return to. That’s why we decided to create a project to support those who are thinking about their future in the place where they are now, offering them the opportunity to enhance their economic capacity,” Svitlana Dubyna, the head of the organization, explains.

To Teach or to Create Conditions

This idea led to a five-day business and employment school attended by 80 women, including both IDPs and residents of the Vinnytsia community. The training was open to those who had previously owned a business or wished to start one, as well as those who had not yet decided to start a business but wanted to improve their position in the labor market.

A significant advantage of the school was its location in Truskavets, in the west of the country. For many women, it was their first time traveling since being displaced, which inspired and reassured them that they could travel for education and self-development, not just out of necessity. Additionally, participants could bring their children, who were engaged by entertainers while their mothers honed their entrepreneurial skills.

The head of the CSO “Vis” and project coordinator of the “Capable and Resistant” program, implemented by East Europe Foundation with support from Switzerland, believes that adults cannot be taught directly. Instead, they can be provided with the necessary conditions. She identifies these conditions as voluntary participation and the possibility of choice, clear conditions for participation, the opportunity to ask questions, and a safe and comfortable space that respects each participant’s needs. “It is crucial for us not to impose, expect, or demand anything. Instead, we must trust that individuals can independently take what they need. Their achievements and strength are their own; we are merely here to assist.”

Among the school trainers are those who have been forced to leave their homes, so they understand the needs and challenges of the participants best. Additionally, all women have the opportunity to receive psychological support to overcome barriers that may arise in the process of starting a business or finding a job. “If we invite people to do something, we have to ensure they gain value; therefore, we select individuals who can work professionally and understand the specifics,” Svitlana Dubyna emphasizes.

Furthermore, as part of the “Capable and Resistant” project, the entire CSO team acquired new knowledge and skills for their growth.

Lesia Luchkovska, program manager of the “Capable and Resistant” program at East Europe Foundation, explains that institutional support and development of civil society organizations is one of the three strategic goals of East Europe Foundation. That is why Foundation not only holds grant competitions for projects from civil society organizations but also invests in these competitions to develop the organizations that submit grant applications.

This includes, for example, funds for a new communication strategy for the CSO, as well as for training sessions and retreats for team building, the opportunity to undergo a professional assessment of the organization and create a development roadmap, mentoring on the organization’s administrative and financial strategy, and more.

 Svitlana Dubyna notes that approaches to communication have evolved, leading to greater consistency in their work: “This keeps the team in good shape, preventing exhaustion. Additionally, holding business schools has strengthened our team.” She emphasizes that while projects may come to an end, “what has been developed, studied, and tried remains with us.”

Living Businesses

The second stage of the program involves study tours of Vinnytsia region, which are currently underway. For these tours, Vis has selected businesses owned by women who can genuinely discuss not only their successes but also the challenges and lessons learned along the way. Svitlana Dubyna comments, “This is an opportunity to see living businesses, from cheese factories to lavender fields, and meet the people who started them.”

 “I felt quite confident after participating in the school because I heard the motivating words of support that no matter what, you have to get up and move on, that a woman can do anything. So, after analyzing my mistakes with the school’s experts, I wrote a new grant application for my business and started a sole proprietorship,” Maryna Sevaieva, a confectioner from Vinnytsia, shares reflecting on her changes after the training.

Olena Myaluk was forced to leave her native Donetsk region back in 2014. Now she lives in Koziatyn and runs her own sewing workshop. The business school of the CSO “Vis” helped her change her approach to her work and accelerate the development of her enterprise. For example, she had long wanted to move to a more expensive and better location, but was hesitant.

Psychological support from the project helped her take the plunge. “Now I will have a workshop in the very center of the city, with the kind of renovation I envision. My pricing policy and the way I promote my services have also changed. The school helped me to prioritize, eliminate unnecessary things, and focus on what I really want,” the entrepreneur says. Olena had long dreamed of creating her own clothing collection, and after attending the business school, she put this desire into action.

This material was developed in partnership with East Europe Foundation, with support from Switzerland for 50vidsotkiv.org.ua