In Poltava, a pitch was held for internally displaced women from the first cohort of the NIZHNA project (Women's Unbreakable Initiative — Persistently and Actively). After training with psychologists, advocacy professionals and business coaches, participants from five communities were able to win funding for their cause. The competition was held in a pitching format. The women prepared a brief oral business plan and presented it to the members of the competition committee.
Forty-three participants expressed a desire to compete for financial support. The Competition Commission has identified twelve best business plans, for the implementation of which women will receive funding in the form of purchasing equipment and/or materials.
“I believe that every woman who dared to come here today, she has already won. She overcame her fear, overcame stereotypes about women having to know their place. I am glad that women are now given such attention and given the opportunity to develop in entrepreneurship,” said project participant Oksana Kaplenko.
“This is the first time I am involved in such a project. This is an important thing to do for women. Because a lot of us stay away. And here we got the opportunity to evaluate our capabilities, try our hand. I enjoyed studying. A lot of incomprehensible concepts, but the coaches perfectly explained everything. And at the pitching, I did not expect that the competition commission would not only ask, but also give valuable advice. I listened to everything,” Lilia Uskova shared her impressions.
Ahead are two more similar events for the participants of the next sets.
The project is being implemented by the UN Women in Ukraine Foundation and funded by the UN Women's Fund for Peace and Humanitarian Aid (WPHF), a flexible and operational financing instrument supporting quality measures to enhance the capacity of local women in conflict prevention, crisis response and emergency response situations and use of key peace-building opportunities.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the United Nations Women's Peace and Humanitarian Aid Foundation (WPHF), but this does not mean that the views and content expressed therein are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.
