“I realised my love for animals by opening my own grooming salon,” – Valeriia, a participant in the “Reboot: Expanding Employment Opportunities” programme

Valeriia is originally from Kherson and has always had a passion for animals. She turned this passion into reality by opening a grooming salon. With an established client base, she was successfully growing her business. However, when the full-scale war in Ukraine broke out, Valeriia and her family were forced to relocate to Mykolaiv. Unfortunately, she had to close the salon, as all her equipment remained in Kherson, and her clients had moved to different regions. She was forced to start from scratch.

Drawing on her previous experience, Valeriia created a business plan and applied for the “Reboot: Expanding Employment Opportunities” programme, which is implemented in the Mykolaiv region with the support of the Spanish Red Cross and the Danish Red Cross. After becoming one of the winners and receiving a microgrant, Valeriia opened a new grooming salon. She has now set it up and is already providing services to her first furry clients.