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We support, motivate and inspire people who have faced war and its consequences. We help to convert this experience into new opportunities, with a focus on unlocking the potential of everyone.
Employment
Training course «How to find a job during the war»
The war changed each of us, shifted our priorities and taught us to be stronger. Life will never be the same again, but we need to adapt to the changes. Together with Prometheus, we have developed a course that will help you determine which direction to take and how to start your professional career in the new reality.
Get to the course
Manual «Military immunity in a civilian career»
Military experience is one of the opportunities for career development. The guide Military Immunity in a Civilian Career will help you work on your own to develop the skills you acquired in the military and adapt them to a civilian profession. The detailed instructions will give you tips on how to put your acquired knowledge and skills on your CV and present them at a job interview.
Get to the guide
Useful materials
The search for yourself and professional fulfilment in the new realities of life is not an easy task. But we are confident that you can do it, because you are already on the right track. We are here to support you, so we have prepared a selection of useful articles to help you find the answers.
Successful cases
Our greatest inspiration and motivation is the stories of our participants who have managed to realise themselves in various fields. We share their successes with you to show that everything is possible!
«It’s never too late to try your hand at IT»
Background
Serhii evacuated from Kramatorsk and for a long time could not decide what to do in the new place and how to find a job he liked. Since moving, he had been constantly looking for a job, and several attempts had failed. After analysing his failures, he realised that the reason was the lack of a high-quality CV that could reveal all his experience and skills in depth.
Meeting with the FPEC
It was at that time when Serhii saw an announcement about free career counselling from the FPEC and decided to use this opportunity. His main request was to learn how to write a CV, analyse his experience and present it correctly to the employer.
The result
Together with the consultant, Serhii updated his CV, structured his experience, and identified his own priorities. Sergiy chose IT as his new career path, as he had been interested in it for a long time but did not know where to start. Sending an updated CV to several job postings resulted in invitations to interviews, and eventually an offer of a developer position. He also worked through this request with a counsellor, who told him about opportunities for further self-development in a new field. «Career counselling directly helped me to solve my employment problem. Otherwise, I would not have understood for a long time why there was no response to my requests».
«How to combine two hobbies into one»
Background
Before the full-scale invasion, the woman lived in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region. She worked in medical recruitment, engaged in personnel selection and team development. Iryna has a second degree in psychology, which helped her communicate better with different teams. But with the start of the full-scale invasion, Iryna was forced to move to the Zakarpattia region for safety reasons. In the new place, she had to look for a job again, analyse different vacancies and offers to see if she could apply for positions in the local labour market with her experience and specialisation.
Meeting with the FPEC
In social media groups, Iryna saw an announcement about the project from the FPEC and left her application. Thus, she became a participant in the training, which she joined with a request for career counselling. The participant had been thinking about switching to IT for some time and starting her career in a new field.
The Result
Due to the project, Iryna was able to attend a career counselling session to analyse her previous experience, skills, plans and opportunities. Together with the consultant, she worked on her request and analysed the stages of career development. Iryna realised that the best option would be to find a job in her field of study and learn a new field in parallel. She has now found a job as a psychologist with the mobile team of People in Need.
«When you have a job but no power»
Background
Alina is a specialist in manicure. She lived and worked in Kyiv, had her own studio where she received clients, held masterclasses, and developed her brand on social media. However, after the full-scale invasion began, she moved to Lviv and had to close her studio in Kyiv. She resumed her work in her new location. However, the constant tension, stress and danger greatly affected her motivation to do anything.
Meeting with the FPEC
It was at that moment that Alina saw an announcement on social media about the possibility of free psychological assistance from the FPEC specialists. She visited a consultation with Yulia Pavlova, who helped her to deal with various manifestations of emotions. Alina learned to control them and take care of her mental health. And most importantly, she received a boost of motivation and positive energy that helped her move forward.
The result
After the counselling, Alina felt refreshed and eager to return to work. So, after a while, she moved to Kyiv, where she opened a new studio: with new ideas, a new approach to work, and a desire to help clients not only with her services but also with her moral support.
«When a hobby becomes a career»
Background
Artem used to be a photographer. The process fascinated him, brought him not only pleasure but also income – for a while, he even worked as a photographer for a company. After his demobilisation, Artem realised that the industry had changed a lot: there were many new directions and trends. Then he realised that his knowledge was not enough and he needed to improve his skills.
Meeting with the FPEC
That’s how Artem met the team at the FPEC. He had a lot of plans, but the main one was to learn how to work with photo banks. This would give him the opportunity to continue doing what he loves and earn good money at the same time. And this gives you confidence in yourself, your actions and in the future. The FPEC was a great start on a new path.
The result
Artem graduated from Photostudy.me and already has several completed practical works in the new format. He has also mastered the stop-motion video technique and added to his portfolio. Today, he no longer doubts his career opportunities and is ready for new projects.
«To stand up and move on»
Background
Maksym Dotsenko was not among the first to leave Luhansk, as he had a little 5 years old daughter with cerebral palsy. He didn’t even have enough money to buy tickets. But when it became impossible to live under constant shelling, they started looking for any way to leave. It was only 17 July, after social benefits had been credited, that they managed to travel by train from Luhansk to Kyiv. Maksym’s relatives met the family at the railway station, and volunteers helped with clothes and money. Today, Maksym is incredibly grateful for the humanity, sincerity and ease of people who lent a helping hand when he needed it most.
Meeting with the FPEC
Maksym applied for help to the FPEC twice. The first time was when he first arrived in a new place. At the Centre for Humanitarian Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons, he met our female volunteers. They asked him to fill out a questionnaire to understand what kind of jobs they could look for him, and immediately offered him a job as a warehouse loader. Maksym worked there for the next 4 months and quit because he was moving out of town. When Maksym applied to the Jobcentre Plus for the second time, he received the phone numbers of the employers in his application form. After several calls, Maksym received two offers.
Result
Today Maksym works at a car wash. He likes his job, and especially his new team, which is always sympathetic to Maksym’s family and IDP circumstances, providing him with a flexible work schedule and time off when needed. With great gratitude, the man talks about how his colleagues are now raising money to help him in some way. His wife recently underwent surgery to remove her thyroid gland, and the family’s expenses from Luhansk have increased. But Maksym is grateful not for money, but for humanity and sincere kindness, which people often lack.
«How to start your own business?»
Yana’s power and courage are enviable. She gained the strength to face her fears and changes
Background
Yana has always been confident in herself and her abilities. Born in Donetsk, she has lived in the city all her life. She worked in the tourism industry: administrative work, communications and internal training.
After the outbreak of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, the travel agency where Yana worked stopped working. The winter was cold, long and depressing for her.
Meeting with the FPEC
On social media, Yana saw a post about the training and development programme offered by the FPEC. She applied for 2 courses at once – one for managers and one for SMM.
During the course of her studies, Yana Sovetova realised that the knowledge she gained from the professional business trainers of the FPEC programme and like-minded people from the East was invaluable.
The result
The next step was the Entrepreneurship course, where she met Vira Lebedieva, head of the IDP training and development programme at the Free People’s Employment Centre. This meeting inspired her to create her own course on tourism for IDPs – Tourism.
«When you take your life into your own hands, everything works out».
Background
Iryna and her son arrived in Dnipro from Luhansk in August 2014.
The choice of the city was not accidental – they had friends in Dnipro who helped them at first, and the city itself welcomed them, as well as all those who continue to come here «from there».
Meeting with the FPEC
Almost immediately, Iryna signed up for a job training on the FPEC website (it was too difficult to find a job in a new city). At the employment training, when Iryna mentioned that she was a researcher and had worked with students for many years, one of the volunteers suggested that she ask about vacancies at universities in Dnipro. And in just a few days, the FPEC suddenly saw a vacancy at one of the best universities in Ukraine with a name and history – Dnipro National University.
The result
When Iryna joined the new team, she did not lose her cool, but showed her technical professionalism, versatility of knowledge and skills, openness and integrity. The team immediately accepted her well and warmly. In such a short time, with the help of her new employer, Iryna has already managed to publish two scientific articles, and will soon have 30.
She also dreams of staying in Dnipro, getting back on her feet, earning a proper living and continuing to develop without looking back.
Re-qualification
Undergo career guidance
t’s never too late to change your profession. Especially when you feel that you only have one life and you shouldn’t waste it on a job you don’t like. We support your aspirations to try new things and fulfil yourself in previously unfamiliar areas. But how do you start your journey in learning a new profession? How do you choose the business you like? And how do you determine what you are inclined to and what you really want?
We recommend tests that will help you gather your thoughts and find answers to these questions.
Career guidance and development test from the State Employment Service of Ukraine
Holland’s Professional Personality Type Test
Psychological
career guidance test
for IT professionals
We share useful materials about the retraining algorithm in times of war
Relevant
professions
The world is constantly moving forward, and the labour market is changing with it: some professions are disappearing, others are emerging, and some are transforming, requiring a wider range of knowledge and skills. What professions are most relevant today and what are the specifics of employment in different fields? The FPEC experts share the most interesting things.
Successful cases
Our greatest inspiration and motivation is the stories of our participants who have managed to realise themselves in various fields. We share their successes with you to show that everything is possible!
The path to a life’s occupation
Background
Before the war broke out in 2014, Oleksandr was running his own business producing concrete products. After his demobilisation and prolonged treatment for his injuries, he was thinking for a long time about what business to choose for himself.
Meeting with the FPEC
It was then that one of his military comrades told Oleksandr about a retraining project for veterans. Back in the ATO, when there was virtually nothing to eat and you had to cook something out of nothing, Oleksandr liked to experiment with different ingredients because he used to be interested in field cooking, learning which herbs could be used and which could not. This knowledge came in handy. He immediately realised that the project was a good opportunity to learn to cook professionally.
The result
Oleksandr realised his dream – he completed the culinary courses and became a chef. After that, he got a job at the Krai Svit art restaurant in Bila Tserkva. Oleksandr cooks for creative people and gives cooking classes to his friends.
From IT to entrepreneurship
Background
Before the war broke out in 2014, Dmytro had a successful career in the IT sector, and his wife ran her own business. Leaving their hometown was not in the family’s plans, but after the situation escalated, the couple decided to first move to Poltava region and later to move to Kyiv. By that time, Dmytro had lost his job, and his wife’s business was not generating the expected income. Dmytro had a difficult time finding a job: some employers had doubts about his residence permit.
A meeting with the FPEC
Just in the days when Dmytro was actively looking for a job, he found the Facebook page of the Free People’s Employment Centre and soon attended the first training on the specifics of the interview. This gave the man the opportunity to find a job in a completely new field for him – selling promotional products.
The result
Dmytro additionally took a course in Salesmanship organised by the Free People Employment Centre, and later, together with his wife, he also took an English course. This was followed by time management and project management training. Dmytro found like-minded people and, most importantly, a business in which he is developing and succeeding every day.
Business and self-employment development
Business development
and self-employment opportunities
Starting your own business is not easy. Many barriers arise: how to choose a direction, where to start and, most importantly, where to get start-up capital? Everything is easier when you have support from the outside. The key is to look for opportunities and use them properly. We are sharing with you current business development and self-employment programmes that will help you get started and take an important step.
Successful cases
Our greatest inspiration and motivation is the stories of our participants who have managed to realise themselves in various fields. We share their successes with you to show that everything is possible!
«Everything will be art. Flowers for jewellery, jewellery for people»
Background
Iryna used to have her own rose garden with 500 varieties – she created blooming corners for people, was fond of photography, and was an activist. But the war of 2014 replaced harmony with power, roses with weapons, and the girl with a volunteer soldier of the Sich battalion. When she returned home, the kindergarten was almost gone, as was the desire to continue her work. That’s when Iryna found inspiration in making epoxy resin jewellery. She was good at it, but lacked the skill to take good photos and start selling them.
Meeting with the FPEC
Then she decided to join the retraining project. It gave her not only good knowledge, but also the opportunity to meet good people and receive overwhelming support from her fellow participants who wanted to change their lives. The stories of others inspired her and provided many answers to her questions. As part of the project, Iryna received a grant to master the art of photography professionally. She attended the Victor Marushchenko School of Photography, studied reportage photography, and moved on to study at the Kyiv School of Photography.
The result
The woman launched her own brand BLOOM Iryna Tsvila. She creates original jewellery and accessories made from plants. The knowledge gained through the project became the basis for business development, and the support and atmosphere of the participants breathed a second life into her business. Iryna has already revived her rose garden. She receives flowers from all over the country. In 2015, Iryna gave herself to the country, and now Ukrainians share their kindness and support with her.
How space can become yours
Background
The war started by the Russian Federation in 2014 forced many people to make very, perhaps even too responsible decisions. Ivan volunteered to serve in the army and spent exactly 458 days at war. Returning to normal life was not easy. More than 4 months of interviews and searches, bad offers, no prospects. Could he start his own business? “He had been thinking about business before the war, but then he was scared – what if it didn’t work out, what if I lost my money and my job. And after returning from the front, he had nothing to lose.
Meeting with the FPEC
Once the man shared his idea with his friend Volodymyr, who supported him. At the same time, Ivan came across a post about a two-day training course at the BizClub with an original title: “Business plan on a napkin”. There, he met Vira Lebedieva, the founder of BizClub, and the trainers, who generously shared not only theoretical information but also, and more importantly for him, their experience of building their own business, successes and failures, and professional opinions on the projects proposed by the participants. This is how «Your Space», Ivan and Volodymyr’s interior design studio, was born.
The result
«Now I fall asleep and wake up thinking only about business, it’s very important to me,» says the man. The business is developing well and inspires him to do more. Ivan and his partner are already planning their own production and want to create a wide dealer network in Kyiv and then in the regions. Their words are not empty dreams or groundless ramblings. They are clear, well-founded goals that will certainly be realised. The concentrate of creativity, colours and textures became a business, became a success story, became a new life.
Underpants and socks: how an ATO soldier started sewing super underpants
Background
Oleksandr Matiash joined the ranks of volunteers in the summer of 2015. He still remembers his first day of service well: «July, incredible heat, up to 40 degrees in the shade, and you’re on duty in full gear. And the most painful thing is the underwear – everything presses, steams and chafes.» When he returned to civilian life, he already knew what he wanted to do. He took the $7,000 he had saved for an apartment, partnered with his friend Yevhen and started creating comfortable underwear for men under the Regata Club brand. However, at first, sales were difficult, he had no money for advertising and no particular experience in sales. The underwear was a dead weight.
Meeting with the FPEC
The process started when the Regata Club page was created on Facebook. One of the first customers was TV presenter Michael Shchur, now a member of the Association of Entrepreneurs – ATO Veterans. After the post was published, the brand received 130 orders in seven minutes! Sales went up, the brand began to gain popularity, and Sasha and Zhenya made their first good profits. The power of support and mutual assistance has become a great lever of success.
The result
Nowadays, the Regata Club brand produces underpants in 32 colours, as well as thermal socks that can withstand a wide range of temperatures. The entrepreneurs jokingly call the products of their premium brand «underpants» and «socks». Oleksandr already has a good understanding of how to start his own business, what difficulties he will face and how to avoid many business mistakes. He is ready to share this knowledge as part of our project to help and inspire others like he was until recently.
The story of a cynologis
Background
Until 2014, Oksana was known in Makiivka and Donetsk as an animal psychologist and dog handler, the developer of the School of Understanding with Dogs course for pet owners. She has a degree in engineering, but her life’s work is dog training, and she has devoted ten years to it. Due to the war and forced relocation, she had to start her life all over again. Moving to Kyiv, finding accommodation for herself and her seven tailed friends, and finding a job – even individually, it is difficult to do all of this, and all at once – it is hard to imagine.
Meeting with the FPEC
While searching the city for clients, like-minded people and support, Oksana found out about the Free People’s Employment Centre. The possibility of attending a free course for entrepreneurs immediately caught her interest, and she signed up. But during the course, she gained much more than knowledge. Trainer Vasyl Bogush said: “This girl was able to negotiate with dogs, so she will definitely find a common language with people.” An avalanche of support and a strong impulse gave Oksana self-confidence, and meeting initiative IDPs who do not give up became her strength and inspiration.
The result.
Now Oksana is working on setting up a dog training school in Kyiv. She is sure that a person who does something sincerely will always find a place even in a metropolis. Besides, so many people are ready to lend a shoulder. In the near future, Oksana wants to take a course in Salesmanship organised by the Centre for Animal Welfare to learn how to present her services properly. The goal is set. And it will definitely be achieved.
From IT to entrepreneurship
The beginning
Before the war in Donbas began, Dmitriy from Donetsk successfully worked in the IT sector, his wife had her own business, and they were raising their daughter in peace. But in 2014, the war came to the city, the man lost his job, his wife’s business stopped generating income, and the couple had to move and start all over again. In Kyiv, Dmytro immediately started looking for a job: sending out CVs, interviews, problems with his residence permit, employers’ doubts about his reliability because he was «from there».
Meeting with the FPEC
Everything changed when the man found the Free People’s Employment Centre group on Facebook. He signed up for it, and soon attended his first training on how to interview for a job. «The information I received at the first lecture was literally invaluable, and soon I successfully passed the job interview», he recalls. It is noteworthy that Dmitriy realised his potential in a completely new field for him – sales – without any specialised knowledge.
The result
The couple found their place in the new city and fulfilled themselves in their profession. Together with his wife, Dmytro took an English language course, also organised by the FPEC. Then there were trainings in time management and project management. There were also many acquaintances, support, mutual assistance and inspiration. Because even in the darkest of times, there are those who will support and share a ray of kindness.
How not to lose yoursel
Background.
In Luhansk, Tetiana and her husband were successful entrepreneurs. She was in the midst of a creative search and thinking about starting another business when she realised that she would not be able to implement her ideas in her hometown in the near future. The war forced them to leave their home, forget about their successful businesses and start all over again. Looking for a job was not in Tetiana’s plans – she was used to working for herself.
But where to start?
A meeting with the Free People Employment Center
The woman found out about the The Free People Employment Center on Facebook. At first, she took the Entrepreneurship course, and then went on to master SMM and the Beginner’s Course in Management. The most useful knowledge and advice is to keep going! Each of the courses is designed in such a way that it works like a big, big teaser: you are given a canvas, the horizons are marked, and if you are interested and need to read, study, delve into it – in short, row to that very horizon.
The result
Today, Tetiana is the owner of a successful delicatessen business. The project is called «Gourmanyaki» – hunters for new tastes and impressions. The woman is happy with herself and her life again. And to all the IDPs who have not yet found themselves in their new life, Tetiana suggests remembering Henry Ford’s quote: «If you think you can do something, you are right; if you think you can’t do something, you are also right.»
Contacts
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E-mail
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