Women for women: incredible stories from Zaporizhzhia in the ImpactCheck project

It all began with small gatherings where women shared their experiences, supported one another and dreamed of running their own businesses. In 2020, a group of active women in Zaporizhzhia came together to create a space for the growth of women's entrepreneurship. They organised business events, networking meetups and educational sessions, simply because they believed in the power of community.

And when the full-scale war began, that belief turned into action: the team focused on helping displaced people, providing humanitarian and psychological support and attracting donors. This is how the civic organisation "Business Women of Zaporizhzhia" was born, an association that combines the development of women's entrepreneurship with social and educational initiatives.

The main challenge the organisation addresses is women's low economic independence, especially among displaced women. After the war began, Zaporizhzhia took in more than 275,000 internally displaced people, almost half of them women. In the region, women make up the majority of the unemployed, and many have to start again from scratch, learning new professions and searching for paths to financial stability.

Real stories that show this problem needs attention

The civic organisation "Business Women of Zaporizhzhia" works primarily for women among the displaced and vulnerable groups. The organisation runs the "Woman's DNA" hub, which has become a safe space where women receive not only psychological support but also the knowledge needed to start their own business.

Among the hundreds of stories that pass through "Woman's DNA," there are some that remind us that even in the darkest of times it is possible to find light. One of them is the story of Iryna from Melitopol. Before the war she had her own beauty salon, work she loved and a home filled with the comfort of familiar things. But when the city fell under occupation, Iryna had to leave everything behind, her business, her clients, her home, and start life over in Zaporizhzhia. The new beginning proved difficult: no acquaintances, no support, no certainty about where to start.

The turning point was discovering the "Woman's DNA" hub. It was there that Iryna first felt she was not alone. A community of women who had lived through similar challenges gave her not only knowledge but also faith in herself. She completed training at the startup school, mastering financial literacy, entrepreneurship and time-management skills. Later she became a trainer herself on the "Manicure Master" course.

Now Iryna has not only rebuilt her business but is helping other women find themselves in a new profession. Her story is about the strength that is born of loss, and about the support that can change lives.

Another story is that of Olena from the Petro-Mykhailivka community. She dreamed of having her own bakery but lacked the knowledge to run a business. The hub team helped Olena develop a growth strategy and find funding opportunities, and invited her to training sessions on the basics of entrepreneurship, marketing and business management. Now Olena is actively preparing to open her own bakery, which is meant to be not just a business but a hub for the community. "Woman's DNA gave me more than knowledge, it gave me confidence in myself and in my abilities," she shares.

Examples like these show that support and training can fundamentally change women's lives, giving them a fresh start and confidence in their own strength.

Results, partnerships and plans for the future

Over its years of work, the organisation has achieved tangible results: 2,500 women engaged in projects; 1,500 given career support; 1,000 provided with individual psychological help; 400 women completed professional courses (300 in the beauty sector, 100 in administrative services); 1,000 attended employment training; 500 attended training on countering violence; 100 women studied at the startup school, of whom 30 opened their own business; and 50 women take part in the "Woman's DNA" business club.

The civic organisation works closely with local authorities, international bodies and business, and is a member of several working groups, including on countering domestic violence, promoting the employment of displaced people and advocating for gender equality.

The organisation's approach is unique in combining training, mentoring, the creation of a business ecosystem and advocacy for women's rights. This allows women not only to receive help but also to build sustainable economic opportunities.

While taking part in the ImpactCheck educational grant programme run by the NGO "International Agency for Change," the Zaporizhzhia team gained new tools: a methodology for defining impact indicators and the systematic collection and monitoring of data. This strengthened the effectiveness of their programmes and helped the organisation measure results more clearly.

Plans for the next 3 to 5 years include creating a "Woman's DNA Academy," a business school with an expanded programme for women covering entrepreneurship, finance, digital literacy and other skills. The main challenges remain competition for resources and the instability of grant funding, but the organisation plans to diversify its income sources through social entrepreneurship, revenue from services and corporate sponsorship.

And the key message from the organisation's head, Iryna Poliiektova, to other organisations sounds like this: "collect and analyse data systematically, build partnerships, invest in people and in operational capacity." That is precisely how sustainable development is formed, and the kind of change that inspires communities.