"When you're at the initial stage, it's very difficult without support," — participant in the grant support program for entrepreneurs

"Frankly, this opportunity was very helpful. Because when you are at the initial stage, there are no sales yet, and you have to find money to hire employees somewhere, it is very difficult without support," shares entrepreneur Oksana Yasko with her experience.

She became a participant in the grant support program for employment within the project "Support for the social and financial recovery of war-affected communities in the Poltava region."

Oksana sews bed linen, combining traditional Ukrainian symbolism and modern aesthetics. She currently employs 5 seamstresses and a manager. The woman teaches seamstresses herself:

"Of course, I planned to hire assistants. But I definitely wouldn't be able to employ six of them. Nor would I be able to pay experienced professionals. And now we can produce larger volumes, which reduces the cost of a unit of product."

In total, 16 entrepreneurs from Poltava, Kremenchuk, Myrhorod, and Lubny communities were selected this year. They will be compensated with the salaries of new employees, including taxes, for three months.

"This initiative is aimed at supporting businesses that, in the current difficult conditions, cannot afford to expand their staff, although they need it. At the same time, it is help for representatives of vulnerable categories who are looking for work. They have time to prove themselves, and if the entrepreneur has the opportunity, he will continue to cooperate with these specialists after the program ends," notes project assistant Victoria Didenko.

Thus, 45 people received new jobs within the framework of grant support for entrepreneurs.

"The company I worked for went bankrupt. And for almost a year I couldn't find something that suited me. This was due to both personal circumstances and age. And when I got here, I realized: I had finally found the job I wanted," says Antonina, who became a seamstress.

The project participants found work in a wide variety of fields. After all, businesses from many areas needed new employees and support in hiring them: a chain of grocery stores, children's spaces for creative development and sports, and businesses founded by veterans.

"This is a good opportunity to simultaneously have an employee and increase working capital. Expand the product range, for example. In the long term, this also affects the timely payment of taxes and rent. That is, the business is developing. It would be great if such an initiative lasted at least six months," said the owner of the pet store, veteran Artem Hrysyuk.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Light of Hope NGO in partnership with JERU (Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine of international NGOs Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide)