Two Stories — One Strength: Starting Anew

Different cities, different circumstances — but a shared experience of loss and recovery. Both men are named Serhii, both are engineers by profession, and both were forced to leave their homes because of the war. Yet despite everything, they have returned to the work they love.

Serhii Pakhomov moved from the Donetsk region to the Vinnytsia region and restarted his car repair business in Zhmerynka. He started small: renting a workshop and equipping it with the help of local residents — the first shelves were made from old furniture, and gradually they assembled the basic tools. Thanks to the “Reboot: Expanding Employment Opportunities” programme, he was able to acquire the necessary equipment and reach full operational capacity.

“Every time I pick up a new tool, I think of the Red Cross,” says Serhii.

Serhii Symonov — a veteran and internally displaced person from Melitopol — lost his workshop for repairing petrol-powered tools and small appliances due to the occupation. In Ternopil, he started from scratch: finding premises, clients, and opportunities to rebuild his business. Support from the programme enabled him to purchase equipment and return to work in a field where he has over ten years of experience.

These stories are about resilience and the possibility of recovery, even after losing everything. The Ukrainian Red Cross, in partnership with the Danish Red Cross, Swiss Red Cross, German Red Cross, and Spanish Red Cross, continues to support small businesses in Ukraine.

Applications are now open for microgrants under the Reboot programme.