Progress Amidst Conflict: Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories from Across Ukraine in Special Project by Ukrainska Pravda

Five compelling narratives from the victors of #VARTO Doing Your Own contest – uncovering the resilience to cultivate personal businesses in the face of war and life’s adversities.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian small businesses found themselves grappling with severe conditions: the purchasing power of most Ukrainians has markedly declined, leading to a drop in entrepreneurial profits. Concurrently, the country’s economic climate was too precarious for entrepreneurs to secure loans to meet current needs and expand, leading many to hope to weather the storm and keep their businesses afloat if possible.

However, now, in the 20th month of the conflict, the conversation in Ukraine has shifted towards recovery and reconstruction. Small businesses, which significantly contribute to community budgets, are expected to be key drivers of these processes. In essence, without the growth of local entrepreneurship, regional development will be stalled.

Grant programs present a viable avenue for local businesses to secure resources for growth and expansion. One such initiative was launched by MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the Ukrainian Veterans Fund of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, named #VARTO Doing Your Own. Under this program, veterans and relatives of fallen defenders could receive between UAH 500,000 and UAH 1.5 million to initiate and develop their own businesses in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors. The total budget of the competition was UAH 15 million.

“We have been conducting the business idea competition to bolster local businesses annually since 2019. Simultaneously, we are continually adapting to new challenges: In 2020, it was quarantine restrictions during the pandemic, and now it is the aftermath of a full-scale invasion. Today, we are immensely gratified to be able to assist those who defend us and their families to reintegrate into life with our programs and expertise. Because all military servants should know that they are anticipated, and the communities where they reside are progressing,” Tetiana Volochai, Director of MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, remarks.

“Supporting veteran businesses is a positive move from both an economic and social perspective. After returning from the war, our heroes have the opportunity to establish their own businesses, create jobs, and thus significantly aid their communities.

Ukrainska Pravda. Life has compiled five stories of the contest winners from different parts of Ukraine. All of them serve as examples of how, despite the war and various life upheavals, Ukrainians muster the strength to launch and grow their own businesses, create jobs, and rebuild Ukraine through their entrepreneurial endeavors.

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