For Herself and the Country: How a Woman from Zaporizhzhia Built a Business with a Social Mission  

In the spring of 2022, 35-year-old Olha from Zaporizhzhia was forced to leave her hometown with her husband and two children. That difficult decision marked the beginning of new opportunities. As Olha recalls, in the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, her family hoped for a quick end to the fighting. However, the Russian military’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant became a turning point, prompting the family to evacuate for the safety of their children.  

Leaving the city, which was near the front line at the time, felt like a game of roulette—Zaporizhzhia was under artillery and heavy weapon attacks. Olha’s family fled on an organized evacuation train.

“I thought we were leaving for a few weeks, but everything dragged on. The journey took two days, and they were the worst days of my life. The conditions reminded me of scenes from World War II movies,” Olha recalls.  

In Lviv, Olha struggled with a sense of "suspended life." She found the strength to start anew with the help of "VONA Hub", a project aimed at supporting women’s economic empowerment. Career advisors helped Olha regain confidence in her abilities. After attending various training sessions, including IT courses and resume-building workshops, she—previously an employee—considered starting her own business. She chose to produce dried and smoked meat, as she had a background in food technology.  

"Since many of our family members are serving in the military, we decided our business should benefit the country. Thanks to the support of "VONA Hub" and international grants, we were able to purchase the necessary equipment and start production," says Olha.  

That’s how her business, "Lean Meat," was born. It is still developing, but already has drying and smoking chambers that minimize manual labor. The automation of many processes allows Olha to run her business while working remotely, ensuring financial independence during uncertain times.  

"I was inspired by the acronym of VONA: Free, Inspired, Independent, Ambitious. My desire and the support of the hub’s experts pushed me forward," she shares.  

Olha has no intention of stopping—her ambitions include scaling production to enter the European market and creating new jobs. In addition to economic empowerment, social responsibility is important to her, so she plans to adapt working conditions to employ people with disabilities. Olha’s story proves that even in the most difficult circumstances, one can find the strength for a fresh start and contribute to both personal and national well-being.  

Dreaming and Acting: How a Displaced Woman from Luhansk Region  Revived Her Business  

Yuliia, a 43-year-old from Siverskodonetsk , lost her home and business due to the war. However, despite all the hardships, she managed to return to her passion—confectionery—and start over in Kyiv.  

"It was March 6, 2022, when we left Siverskodonetsk," Yuliia recalls. "The shelling was getting more intense, and it was no longer safe to stay."

Her family set off in their car, first finding shelter with her husband's former classmate in Novomoskovsk, then moving to Dnipro. There, Yuliia still hoped to return home soon, but by summer, it became clear that this would be impossible in the foreseeable future.  

When her eldest son enrolled in university in Kyiv, the family relocated to the capital. After a long break, Yuliia finally decided to restart her small confectionery business, which she had run since 2012.  

In Siverskodonetsk, Yuliia’s business thrived—she worked in a fully equipped professional kitchen and had a loyal customer base. After being forced to flee, she lost everything—her equipment remained under occupation.  

"In June of that year, I realized it was time to move forward. My son and I came up with a name for my business—‘SolodkoSolono’—while still in Dnipro. In Kyiv, I created a new Instagram page and started seeking support and knowledge," says Yuliia.  

She learned about "VONA Hub" from other displaced women and initially joined activities focused on mental well-being, such as yoga and meditation. Later, she participated in business training sessions.  

"Thanks to "VONA Hub", I was able to stabilize emotionally, get professional consultations, gain knowledge, and even apply for a grant," Yuliia shares. With the grant money, she purchased essential equipment, including a food processor, oven, freezer, and food printer. Career advisors helped her write a business plan. "I told myself—if nothing works out in six months, I’ll look for a regular job. But I took the risk, and it paid off," she says. She not only regained what she lost but also improved her skills.  

Today, Yuliia continues growing her business and dreams of establishing a stable confectionery production. She believes her work will not only provide financial stability but also inspire other women who have faced similar challenges.

"Being close to my children, seeing their smiles, and knowing I’m on the right path—that's my biggest motivation," she says.  
 

Pursuing a Dream: How Entrepreneur Anastasiia Started from Scratch  

For 33-year-old Anastasiia from Zaporizhzhia, Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine was a turning point in every sense. In addition to the anxieties of war and forced displacement to the Lviv region, she went through a difficult divorce, which resulted in losing a business she once co-owned with her husband.  

Starting over in a village was an overwhelming challenge—she couldn't find a job, and there was no one to leave her child with. Within six months, she and her child returned to Zaporizhzhia, but her old life was gone. The divorce exposed long-standing problems.  

"Everything was left to my ex-husband. My child and I had to live with my parents," Anastasiia says.

While seeking psychological support, she came across information about "VONA Hub"—a project that offers women not only emotional support but also career development opportunities. Initially, she hesitated to apply, as she was neither a displaced person nor a survivor of violence, but the specialists welcomed her.  

Through therapy, Anastasiia realized that her marriage had involved both psychological and financial abuse. Psychological support helped her regain self-confidence, which had been suppressed for years. During startup school sessions at "VONA Hub", she first considered turning her longtime hobby—making fruit leather—into a business.  

"This was the start of a long journey. We attended many training sessions on business planning, strategy, and tax management. Everything was structured, engaging, and gave us opportunities to apply for grants," Anastasiia says.  

Her determination paid off—she used her first grant to buy a large dehydrator and expanded her product line to include fruit chips, jerky, and sun-dried tomatoes. This marked the birth of her brand, "Smachno Shop."  

"I was terrified that it wouldn’t work. But with the support and training, I was able to take this step," says Anastasiia.

Today, she has moved production to a dedicated, sterilized facility, and her brand has gained recognition and customer support.  

Despite skepticism from those who claimed "you can't make money on fruit leather," Anastasiia proved otherwise. Every day, she works on expanding her business and introducing her treats to the European market.