A team from the Kharkiv region offers opportunities to strengthen Ukrainians’ mental health

In today's reality, where stress has become an inseparable part of life for many Ukrainians, it is especially important to find new ways to support the psychological resilience and well-being of communities. This is precisely the ambitious mission taken on by the team behind the "Resilience Space 'Power of Life'" from the Kharkiv region. Through their own determination and the Impactpreneurship 2.0 project, they have taken a major step in this direction.

The idea of taking part in the training came to the team when one of its members, Viktoriia, saw an announcement about the course on social media. Yuliia Kuziv, the team captain, recalls: "My first profession was as a chemistry and biology teacher, and I have taken part in projects with students for many years. I have always been interested in projects and grants. I still am. That is how I became one of the team members." And so a team of five coaches was born, true professionals united by shared values. Viktoriia serves as director and coordinates the work of all the members. Kseniia, the project manager, is responsible for planning and organizing projects and ensuring their successful implementation. Yuliia, the team captain, holds the position of administrative and operations manager, coordinating the team's work and maintaining stable day-to-day operations. Liudmyla works as manager-analyst, analyzing data and developing strategies to achieve the project's goals. Iryna, the specialist in financial matters, handles financial planning and control, which helps ensure the project's sustainability. All team members hold ICF (International Coaching Federation) coaching certification.

The team set itself an ambitious goal: to create a nationwide social business with a platform that would provide educational, coaching, and psychological services. Their mission is to improve the psychological resilience and well-being of Ukrainians. The team's motto, "Strengthening resilience, creating opportunities," clearly reflects their aspirations. Speaking about what makes the project unique, Yuliia says: "We offer a construction kit of mental-health services. It is a comprehensive service for improving mental health and resilience."

The project's target audience includes entrepreneurs, business leaders, and socially vulnerable groups, in particular veterans, their families, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and young people. The project aims to support mental health, build resilience to challenges, and foster the professional development and economic stability of these groups. The social dimension of the initiative lies in the fact that services provided to businesses partly finance assistance for vulnerable categories of the population.

The project will serve as a multifaceted tool for strengthening the community, making a significant positive impact by contributing to its psychological resilience, social cohesion, and economic development. Through comprehensive psychological support and coaching sessions, people will gain the tools to cope with stress, anxiety, and the aftermath of traumatic events. This will foster not only personal growth but also the overall well-being of the community. The project is also aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Through coaching, training, and consulting, entrepreneurs and business leaders will be able to improve their management skills, allowing them to adapt more effectively to challenges, maintain stability, and create new jobs. This, in turn, will contribute to the community's overall economic growth. The team places particular emphasis on developing educational potential. Information campaigns, educational programs, and platforms created within the project will raise awareness of the importance of mental health, methods for overcoming crises, and building resilience. This will help the community become better prepared for life's challenges. The project will also strengthen community cohesion by creating a space of support where people can receive help, share their experiences, and draw inspiration from examples of successfully overcoming difficult situations. Such social interaction will help people feel part of a united whole.

In addition, the "Power of Life" resilience space supports socially vulnerable groups, including veterans, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and young people. Providing psychological assistance and supporting the professional development of these groups will foster their integration into society and their economic stability.

During their participation in the Impactpreneurship 2.0 course, the team achieved significant results. A key victory was securing a grant of USD 15,000, which will provide financial support for implementing their social project. Through the course, the participants deepened their knowledge of social entrepreneurship, financial planning, and project management, gained practical skills essential for the initiative's sustainable development, and built a strong network of contacts with mentors, trainers, and other participants.

Team captain Yuliia Kuziv noted that she draws great inspiration from people whose work sets an example of professionalism, dedication to their cause, and genuine care for the future. She speaks with great respect about Svitlana Olieinikova, whose YouTube channel has become a source of new ideas and insights for her. She was especially impressed by Kseniia Karbovska, the mentor of the Impactpreneurship 2.0 course, and by her support.

Yuliia also mentions Yuliia Merkhel, her focus on environmental topics, and her example of how personal passion can be combined with social responsibility. "I am inspired by everyone who was involved in creating this project, the organizers, the trainers, and everyone who supported and helped throughout the learning process. I sincerely thank you for the incredibly powerful training, the open communication, and the invaluable opportunities. I am especially grateful to Svitlana Olieinikova for her inspiring words: 'Opportunities are not given, they are taken.' These words have become my new life motto, and they now motivate me to keep moving forward," the team captain shared.