She arrived with just a suitcase and her cat. The first toy she created was a “Kherson watermelon”
Svitlana Murashova is a welder with more than 30 years of experience who has always had a talent for creativity. After retiring, she finally returned to a long-held dream — making soft toys. At first, she created small items and decorative pieces, but over time her hobby grew into a meaningful livelihood: original handmade products, participation in fairs and exhibitions, and delivering workshops, particularly for children with disabilities.
The full-scale war shattered her normal life. Svitlana lived through the occupation of Kherson, was evacuated to Vinnytsia, and found herself in a new city with just one suitcase and her cat. The first months were extremely difficult: loneliness, uncertainty, and no conditions to continue her craft. With the support of psychologists, she gradually began to recover and returned to her work — sewing toys by hand with only the materials she had available. Her first new creation was the “Kherson watermelon” — a symbol of both pain and love for her home region.
In Vinnytsia, Svitlana was supported by local artisans and the community initiative “People’s Territory of Happiness”. A kind woman gifted her a sewing machine — a turning point that allowed her to start again. Around the same time, an acquaintance from Kherson told her about the Reboot programme. Svitlana applied, became a grant finalist, and received support to develop her small workshop. Throughout the process, programme specialists and a psychologist supported her in overcoming fear and rebuilding her confidence.
Today, Svitlana is once again creating, delivering workshops, participating in fairs, and inspiring others with her story. She says that the Reboot programme gave her a chance to begin again without losing herself. She also encourages others not to hesitate to seek support: sometimes, the first step is simply believing that change is possible. радить іншим не боятися звертатися по підтримку: іноді перший крок — це просто повірити, що зміни можливі.
