A Veteran-Led Pet Shop and Light Shows: The First Micro-Grant Disbursement Is Already Making an Impact

Last week, participants of the “Reboot: Expanding Employment Opportunities” programme received the first instalment of micro-grant support to help develop their own businesses. This marks an important step that has enabled their business plans to start becoming a reality. In addition, the programme team carried out monitoring visits in the Ivano-Frankivsk region to inspect the purchased equipment, verify the use of funds, and ensure that businesses are developing in line with their proposed plans.

Back in September, the selection committee chose the strongest ideas — those that met the criteria of relevance, uniqueness, environmental sustainability, and potential profitability. Among the selected initiatives is a veteran-led pet shop selling dried pet food and supplies produced by people who acquired disabilities as a result of the war. Other new businesses include educational centres, hair salons, a laundry service, and a creative project providing light design for charity events, making these events even more vibrant. Woodworking workshops relaunched by internally displaced families from the Kharkiv region also received support, as did a sports club offering karate classes for children and a back-care programme.

Each successful applicant received 50,000 UAH — the first portion of their grant — which has been used to purchase equipment, tools, and materials. This support is the result of joint efforts by the Ukrainian Red Cross in partnership with the Swiss Red Cross. For people who have lost everything because of the war, micro-grants are not just financial assistance — they are an opportunity to rebuild their lives and create something of value for their community.