With the support of Oschadbank, nearly 300 young entrepreneurs received grants for professional training under the program “Own Business: Space for Development”

A total of 290 entrepreneurs participated in the “Own Business: Space for Development” program to support young entrepreneurs: 178 aged 18 to 35 who had previously received an “Own Business” grant and 112 entrepreneurs who had not received one. As part of the program, participants received grants for professional training to develop their own businesses.

The initiative was implemented by the international humanitarian organization CORE with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine and Oschadbank. The primary objective of the program is to provide assistance to internally displaced individuals and those impacted by the armed aggression against Ukraine. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the capabilities of small businesses and provide support to young entrepreneurs in wartime circumstances.

Program participants received funding for professional training in the amount of up to 30,000 hryvnia.

Among the program participants who previously received the “Own Business” grant, 22% are internally displaced persons, 15% are residents of frontline territories, 9% are members of large families, and 9% are people with disabilities. Most grant recipients are women, and the largest age group is entrepreneurs aged 26–35. The majority of grant recipients run businesses in the service sector, health and beauty industry, or manufacturing, and these areas have become the most popular among participants for training.

“Supporting Ukrainian youth is one of the state's priorities. The results of the ”Own Business: Space for Development" program have shown that combining financial support with investments in education and professional skills yields significant results. This is an example of how the state, together with international partners, can strengthen human capital, community resilience and lay the foundation for the country's long-term recovery," said Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine.

"A microgrant is only the first step. Next, businesses need knowledge and management skills to survive and grow. This is the logic we apply in supporting entrepreneurs: not only providing resources but also helping businesses adapt to the war, preserve and create jobs," said Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and  Agriculture of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization.

"Young entrepreneurs face challenges every day. That is why we decided to help young people make their businesses more sustainable by providing grants for professional training. After all, it is knowledge combined with experience that helps move a business forward in wartime. Thanks to our partners at the Ministry of Economy and Oschadbank, we were able to find young entrepreneurs who need such support. I am very pleased that all participants consider the program to be effective. This is confirmed by the fact that the program has been scaled up, and we have been able to help more than 100 people who had not previously received a grant for business development," said Liana Khorovytska, Executive Director of the international humanitarian organization CORE in Ukraine.

"Supporting young entrepreneurs is an investment in community sustainability and economic recovery. For Oschadbank, it is important not only to provide financial instruments but also to ensure access to knowledge that helps entrepreneurs grow, adapt, and move forward with confidence even in the difficult conditions of war. Together with our partners, we are creating an environment in which young people can unlock their potential and build viable, competitive businesses," said Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska, member of the Oschadbank Management Board responsible for MSMEs.