The educational program “Dream and Achieve”, designed to support internally displaced women who lost their jobs, businesses, or financial stability due to the war, culminated in a powerful final event — Demo Day. This event marked the conclusion of three months of intensive learning, serving as a source of inspiration and a clear demonstration that even in the most challenging circumstances, it is possible not only to recover but to build a new reality.

The program was implemented by the NGO Impact Force in partnership with UN Women, with support from the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development, the national Diia.Business project, and funding from the governments of Iceland and France. Eighty women from across Ukraine participated in the program, gaining knowledge, mentorship, and financial support of $1,000 USD each to help grow their businesses.

Demo Day was not only an emotional finale but also a platform for showcasing tangible results: ten finalists presented their business ideas that had been born and transformed during the training. These included an inclusive design studio, a socially-driven coffee shop, a law firm, online education platforms, and services in beauty, decor, fitness, graphic design, as well as artisanal production of jewelry, accessories, and delicacies.

A highlight of the event was an open conversation with business representatives from SoftServe, Jerelia, and MustHave, where entrepreneurs shared their insights and experiences, inspiring participants to pursue further development. The final event was also supported by Unilever, Laba, Digital Data Consulting, Art Bro, and media partners Ukrainky, Rubryka, and Womo.ua.

We sincerely thank the partners of “Dream and Achieve” for their generous gifts to program participants and mentors. Your support has made a meaningful contribution to creating an enabling environment for the growth of women’s entrepreneurship and enriched the program’s impact.

• Dove provided care packages with personal care products for all 80 participants and additional branded gifts for 10 of them.
• Jerelia, Ukraine’s first network-based cosmetics company, gifted 10 cosmetic sets to participants and 25 more to mentors.
• MustHave, the first Ukrainian women’s mass-market clothing brand, presented 29 gift certificates to the program team.
• Ukrainky, an online media platform, awarded a gift set to the best in-person speaker at Demo Day.
• Laba, an international business school, granted a certificate for training in their online courses.
• Digital Data Consulting donated 20 hours of business consultations.
• Art Bro, an advertising agency, contributed 100 inspirational and self-development books.

These partnerships exemplify how businesses can meaningfully engage in social initiatives, helping scale impact and contribute to the development of small-scale women-led enterprises.

Collaboration That Drives Change

“We are deliberately building an ecosystem of opportunities where every woman has access to the resources, knowledge, and support needed to turn her dream into a real project. Partnerships with responsible businesses play a crucial role in this process. It is through collective efforts that we can scale our impact, open new economic prospects, and support those most in need of development and recovery opportunities today,” — said Nina Levchuk, co-founder of Impact Force.

“The ‘Dream and Achieve’ educational program is not only about learning, but also about building trust, expanding networks, and unlocking potential. Thanks to our partners’ experience, support, and mentorship, participants gained valuable knowledge that will help them grow their businesses. At UN Women, we are confident that investing in women’s entrepreneurship is an investment in Ukraine’s future,” — said Sabine Fraser Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine.

“We believe beauty should be a source of confidence, not anxiety. Dove’s mission is to boost women’s self-esteem and help them realize their potential. That’s why we’re always happy to support educational projects that provide women with growth opportunities,” — said Alina Dyumina, Personal Care Marketing Manager at Unilever Ukraine.

“At Jerelia, we believe that women’s entrepreneurship is key to sustainable change in society. It’s not just about income — it’s about dignity, freedom of choice, and the power to act. When a woman starts her business journey, she transforms not only herself but also creates new opportunities for her family, community, and country. That’s why we supported ‘Dream and Achieve’ — because we see it as more than just an educational course, but a real tool for transformation: from dream to action, from idea to confident business steps. Jerelia is a space where every woman can lead, find support, and feel the strength of being part of a greater community. We believe in the potential of every woman and are proud to walk this path alongside them,” — said Andriy Prokopenko, Founder of Jerelia.

The Power of Partnerships in Action

The “Dream and Achieve” program exemplifies effective collaboration between the civil sector, large businesses, and women-led enterprises. Thanks to such partnerships, social initiatives can go beyond immediate aid and evolve into sustainable support and development.

When large businesses empower small ones, a new economy of opportunity emerges — one rooted not just in profit, but in human stories, recovery, dreams, and dignity.