She arrived in a new city with three young children and, within three years, began working independently in a new field

Moving from the Luhansk region to Ivano-Frankivsk in 2022 was a sudden and life-changing relocation for Yuliia Chesnokova. With three young children in her care, she arrived in a new city without a support network or anyone she knew. Despite the challenges, she found time to volunteer while taking on occasional work, including making cakes and sweets to order. She did everything she could to get by, but deep down she had a strong desire to work in the beauty sector — combining creative work with team interaction.

Yuliia learned about the Ukrainian Red Cross Reboot programme through acquaintances and immediately registered. She actively participated in various training sessions, learning new skills. Among the professional courses offered, she chose nail care training, where she learned to use the equipment and tools required for manicure services, nail design, and hand care.

In December 2025, she received her training certificate and rented a long-awaited workspace in a beauty salon. She now has regular clients and encourages other women she trained with to join her team.

“Taking part in the Reboot programme was very important support for me — it gave me new knowledge, confidence, and the opportunity to realise my dream. It has been invaluable support for me,” Yuliia shared.

Stories like this highlight the importance of timely support, resilience in using available resources, and the ability to support others in turn.

The Reboot programme is implemented in the Ivano-Frankivsk region with the support of the Swiss Red Cross and the Spanish Red Cross.