Opportunities for the development of creative people with special needs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GROWTH OF CREATIVE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

In today's world, social entrepreneurship is one of the most effective tools for developing communities, integrating vulnerable groups, and creating new opportunities for self-fulfillment. Below we tell the story of how the KreaSfera team from the Dnipropetrovsk region became an important hub of change in its region through learning on the course, persistent work, and team spirit.

The team's journey began in May 2024, when, during a gathering of creative-industry artisans, they learned about the Impactpreneurship 2.0 course. This program became a chance not only to gain new knowledge but also to find financial support to bring a creative idea to life. Team captain Valentyna Smyk recalls: "In the city of Pavlohrad I gathered around 80 craftswomen around me. In our shared group I told everyone about the opportunity to study and join the team." It is worth noting that Valentyna is an internally displaced person from the Donetsk region, for whom creativity, after being forced to relocate, became a foundation of life, a source of income, and a tool for coping with psychological strain.

Today the project "KreaSfera Center for Creative Industries" is run by a team of nine specialists led by Valentyna, the initiative's leader. Among the key members are: Iryna Shyshkina (documentation, communication), Natalia Krainyk (grant search), Larysa Riabokon (financial management), Valentyna Radionova (project coordination), Liudmyla Okhrimenko (sales), Iryna Pushkar (creative management), Daria Konovalova (legal matters), and Tetiana Derhachova (organizing master classes).

Their shared project was created to support the local creative community and bring together artists and handmade craftspeople. KreaSfera's mission is to popularize handmade work, develop the creative industry, and support people with special needs and limited abilities. In particular, the project is aimed at supporting and integrating the following social groups:

- internally displaced people who, having lost their homes, are seeking new ways to adapt, find support, and fulfill themselves in new communities;

- families of veterans who need additional opportunities for social and professional integration;

- mothers on parental leave and women caring for children who cannot find employment (because of the war, schools and kindergartens operate remotely);

- creative young people who are at the start of their professional path or have no work experience yet;

- people with disabilities or health problems who have talents but need adapted working conditions;

- low-income pensioners who want additional income and creative self-fulfillment.

KreaSfera's main value is its uniqueness and social impact. By creating a social enterprise, the team is creating jobs, promoting social integration, and providing psychological relief. A survey among Pavlohrad residents showed that 95.3% of respondents believe the city lacks a creative space. KreaSfera solves this problem by becoming a hub for exchanging ideas and supporting creative initiatives.

The team identified a number of potential risks that could affect the project's success. First, because of the unstable power supply, there is a threat that the Center's operations could halt. Second, an escalation of hostilities: the Dnipropetrovsk region lies in a frontline zone, which increases the risk that relocation may become necessary. Third, low demand for services and goods, since changing economic conditions or insufficient customer interest could reduce the Center's income. But thanks to careful planning, the team is ready to overcome these challenges and ensure the project's resilience and further growth. Risk-mitigation plans include installing equipment for uninterrupted power, considering options to relocate the Center to safer regions if the situation worsens, and reformatting operations, including updating the topics of master classes, adapting the product range, and stepping up marketing activities.

The KreaSfera team is actively working to scale up and improve the project, focusing its efforts on several key areas. One priority is expanding the range of services, which includes creating new master-class programs, increasing the product range, and organizing regular events such as fairs, exhibitions, and themed festivals that help popularize creative work. Special attention is paid to supporting craftspeople: the plan is to give them additional opportunities to promote their work and to organize consultations and events that support their professional development. Digitalization is an important stage in KreaSfera's growth. In the near future the team plans to create an online store that will help expand the audience, support sales, and provide convenient access to products for customers from different regions. The team is also working to strengthen partnerships, in particular seeking new investors and cooperating with businesses to secure stable funding and long-term growth for the project. These measures will help KreaSfera become an even more significant hub of creativity, support, and social impact.

The Impactpreneurship 2.0 course became a real call to action for the team. "The dream turned into reality!" says Valentyna Smyk. She is inspired by creativity, community support, and results that change people's lives.

The initiative "Social Entrepreneurship Course 'Impactpreneurship' on the FUNdraiser platform" is implemented by the NGO International Agency for Change with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with financial support from the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands and financial support from the European Union provided within the project "EU4Recovery, Empowering Communities in Ukraine."