On 23 August, a further training event took place in the modular housing complex located in the Sykhiv district of Lviv, where nearly 1,000 internally displaced persons reside: – an information session on employment and business opportunities for affected communities and the empowerment of women.
The event was organised by the Lviv Agrarian Chamber with the support of the Lviv City Council’s Centre for Social Support of Orphans, Children Deprived of Parental Care and Internally Displaced Persons, as part of the UN WFP Institutional Feeding Programme.
The aim of the event was to raise awareness among the affected population, particularly women, regarding employment and business development opportunities, as well as to inform aid recipients about mechanisms for protection against EIB and forms of feedback. The event aimed to empower women by providing them with up-to-date information and practical advice to facilitate their socio-economic recovery.
During the information session, the Chairman of the Lviv Agrarian Chamber congratulated everyone on National Flag Day and Ukraine’s Independence Day. The speaker briefed residents of the modular housing complex on the Institutional Food Programme, its objectives, mission and partners, and spoke about the experience of implementing the Programme in the Lviv and Ternopil regions.
The Chamber’s Monitoring and Protection Officer, Davyd Kravchenko, drew the attendees’ attention to issues concerning the protection of beneficiaries from unlawful actions and the prevention of social exclusion, and explained the reporting mechanism for identifying such violations, as well as the measures that will be taken in response to such offences. Feedback mechanisms for beneficiaries were also the subject of Davyd Kravchenko’s presentation.
Speaker and expert adviser Oksana Prokopenko shared her personal life story in the Kirovohrad region, her work at a large company, and her plans for the future, which were simultaneously shattered by the arrival of the great war on Ukrainian soil. Ms Oksana and her family were forced to leave their home and move to Lviv. Then came months of waiting, reflection and hesitation. Finally, a decision was made: to start her own business.
“Yes, it was difficult and scary at first,” said Ms Oksana. “I lacked knowledge and experience, and didn’t know where to find qualified specialists. But I stubbornly pursued my goal. I sought advice, turned to the authorities and international donors. And it all worked out.”
Oksana Prokopenko now owns a company producing cheese and dairy products under the ‘Lemberg Mit’ brand, and works with major retail chains in the Lviv, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions. The company employs 15 staff, operates a cheese production facility, and from 2023 will run a dairy farm; there is also a separate division dedicated to distribution. And there are ambitious plans for the future.
“I am confident that my success story will inspire women who, like me, have found themselves in difficult circumstances, to start a new chapter in their lives right here and now, making the most of all the opportunities the state offers, utilising the support of international donor organisations and drawing on their own experience, skills and abilities. You just need to overcome your inner doubts and take that first step. I know this for sure!” adds Ms Oksana.
The event came to an end, but the discussion continued for over an hour. Participants shared their problems, sought advice and guidance, and expressed their gratitude for the interesting and practical case studies.
Source: Lviv Agrarian Chamber