On September 24 within the framework of “The New Countdown” program a press conference was held titled “Results of the Station of Success Project Implementation”.
On September 24 within the framework of “The New Countdown” program a press conference was held titled “Results of the Station of Success Project Implementation”.
During the event, the press conference participants Olexandr Chumak, project director in Kharkiv, Olena Rozskazova, head of the Eastern Ukrainian representative office of the International Renaissance Foundation, Kateryna Strelchenko, curator of the charitable organization “Kharkiv Station” and Maryna Popova, one of the contest winners, stated that the project implementation went well, the project experience will be taken into consideration by NGOs and international funds when implementing similar projects. Organizers underlined that all procedures were open, and that the transfers for all the startups are also going to be made openly. Winners will get the mentors’ support, even in other regions (Sumy and Poltava).
Project participants have shown that IDPs intend not only to receive the support from the state and international organizations, but they themselves take an active part in public life and employ other IDPs. One of the main features of the project is the fruitful and effective cooperation between the NGOs and one of the government agencies (Kharkiv regional employment service).
It should be also noted that the local businesses participated quite actively in the project, and due to that it became possible to support 33 projects instead of the planned 25. All funds from investors (over 300 thousand UAH) came as charitable contributions; it is only required that the monitoring of the purpose of use of the funds and equipment provided shall be conducted.
All parties expressed their interest in continuing and developing the project. In the nearest future it is planned to expand the task force due to mobilized ATO members (at present 209 persons out of 588 mobilized persons are registered with the employment service).
Maryna Popova said that “The New Countdown” project helped her to implement her dream – to start up a new business that will make women more beautiful and happy. The project winner thanked the organizers for the project and invited all to the inauguration of her own beauty parlor “Bee” scheduled to be held on September 26 at the address: 7/8 Uprising Square, shopping center “Proton”.
Photo: by Igor Leptuga
The New Countdown program is implemented by the Kharkiv Regional Civil Society Organization “Association of private employers”
jointly with the Charitable Organization “Kharkiv Station Charitable Foundation” supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.
The purpose of the program is to promote the employment of IDPs by creating opportunities for starting up and developing by them of their own businesses Project participants: internally displaced persons from Donetsk and Lugansk regions, Crimea and Sevastopol who intend to start, or to continue, their own businesses.
Contacts: Olena Rozskazova, Head of the Eastern Ukrainian Representative Office of the International Renaissance Foundation, rozskazova@irf.ua
