Kharkiv: On the Frontier of Resilience

Published: January 9, 2026

Few cities embody the word frontier as powerfully as Kharkiv. It sits just 25 kilometers from the Russian border, close enough that aircraft can reach the city in minutes. It has lived under constant aerial threat since the first days of the full-scale invasion, yet it continues to function exceptionally well. Those brave enough to visit are immediately struck by the spotless streets, flowers and decorations set up to beautify areas previously scarred by missiles and drones, and punctual public transportation that was made free of charge for all residents immediately after the start of the invasion. If not for the plywood covering many windows and defensive barricades at the city’s entrance – one might think they are in a safe city in Western Europe. Much of this ability to withstand the daily attacks and offer a sense of order to the residents comes from systems the city has created in wartime – systems that allow Kharkiv to detect danger quickly, warn people in time, and respond in a coordinated way.

At the center of this effort is the Kharkiv Situational Center (KSC), the only civilian defense hub of its kind outside Kyiv. Here, a team of young civil protection workers monitors live feeds, tracks incidents on an integrated city map, and coordinates everything from utility repairs to emergency rescue.

The Heartbeat of Kharkiv

“The Situational Center is the heart of Kharkiv,” says Bohdan Gladkyh, the city’s Director for Civil Protection and head of the KSC. “It sees everything that happens in the city and directs every response – from fire brigades to medics. It’s the pulse that keeps Kharkiv alive.”

Built in just three months through a partnership of the city, local businesses, volunteers, and international donors, the KSC was a feat of wartime engineering. Not only was it considered nearly impossible to complete such a facility in this timeframe, but bringing so many services under one command to cooperate is not an easy feat in any circumstances – much less while each individual system is stressed to the maximum. But the city was able to work out a structure where the State Emergency Services, EMS, police, firefighters, and even utilities work together and coordinate seamlessly for the safety of Kharkiv residents.

Its digital map tracks every hydrant, road, and danger zone; its cameras monitor hundreds of live feeds; its analysts coordinate all emergency and utility services in real time. When an emergency situation arises – whether a complex attack on the city or a simple household fire – the staff at KSC can evaluate the situation through the live camera feeds, pull up complete information about the affected infrastructure, and dispatch necessary services (fire, medics, utilities) to the site depending on the real needs on the ground.

When war turned Kharkiv into a constant target, this “heart of the city” became its shield. But even the most sophisticated coordination system is only as strong as its communications. And in Kharkiv, when power and cell towers fall, silence can be deadly.

When the Signal Means Survival

During blackouts or heavy bombardments, mobile networks collapse within minutes. Towers fall, base stations burn out, and with them the ability to direct responders.

To close that gap, Razom provided radio repeater equipment – the backbone of a secure digital network now linking city hall, emergency services, and municipal companies. The system keeps the signal alive even when everything else fails.

“At first, our rescuers had no stable signal,” Bohdan says. “During blackouts, we were blind. Once the repeaters were installed, communication never failed again – not once.”

He remembers the night that proved just how essential that link is.

“Two months ago, during a double-tap attack, our teams were already working the site of an initial strike when a dispatcher called out on the radio: ‘Rocket incoming!’
Twenty-eight seconds later, the second missile hit. Everyone had time to get into the shelter. Every single person survived.”

A “double-tap” strike is a tactic where a second missile is launched at the same location shortly after the first, often targeting the rescuers who arrive to help. During the first impact, the explosion destroyed a nearby cell tower. As soon as the tower failed, mobile phones in the area lost service completely – even Bohdan’s two SIM cards showed no signal.

“Both of my SIM cards were dead,” Bohdan said. “The cell tower was gone. The only thing that worked was the radio network you helped us build.”

What he meant was that the only functioning communications line was the city’s digital radio network. While emergency crews were already on the ground, a dispatcher monitoring air activity saw that a second missile had been launched toward the same site. Because radios don’t rely on cell towers or commercial networks, the dispatcher was able to relay the message and every responder received it instantly. They had 28 seconds to get into a shelter. The second missile landed about 20 meters from where more than a hundred people had been standing. More than a hundred responders – utility workers, firefighters, and medics – were saved because the repeater network carried that single warning.

Today, that system covers the entire city. The mayor, department heads, and all critical service units carry connected radios. It ties directly into the automatic air-raid alert system that interrupts local radio stations to warn drivers on the road. The network is powered by generators and designed with redundancy: if one repeater goes down, another instantly takes over.

“I don’t see any alternative to digital radio communication,” Bohdan says firmly. “Without it, there is no coordination, no timely warning – and no chance to save lives.”

His conclusion is simple and urgent: every major city in Ukraine needs this system.

Innovation Beneath the Ground

That life-saving network reaches far beyond the Situational Center’s walls into Kharkiv’s schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods.

During one of our visits to the city this fall, several guided aerial bombs struck different districts just as we toured one of Kharkiv’s newly built underground schools. Sirens blared, and messages from Bohdan’s radio crackled through the thick concrete walls. Even while offsite, he was able to coordinate real-time responses across multiple impact zones – dispatching rescue crews, rerouting traffic, confirming that nearby shelters had opened to civilians.

It was a living demonstration of how vital communication is and how the city’s commitment to protection now extends below the surface of the earth.

Kharkiv’s underground schools are a direct answer to life on the front line: fully functional learning spaces that double as certified bomb shelters. Each can host 700-800 students for classes and up to 2,000 people during air raids. They are equipped with filtration systems, independent power, and water reserves. Ten are already operational, with more under construction.

One of these schools was hit directly by a missile in 2023 – and held firm.

“That was our test in real conditions,” Bohdan says. “Everything worked: the blast doors, the filters, the ventilation. The building took the hit, and everyone inside was safe.”

During each air-raid alert, hallways open to residents from nearby buildings, turning the school into a community refuge. Thanks to the same citywide communication system,

alerts arrive in time for people to reach shelter, and teachers can continue lessons safely underground. In addition to the standalone underground schools, learning spaces have also been creatively integrated into the metro stations – one of which was depicted in Kateryna Gornostai’s documentary “Timestamp”. Kharkiv’s engineers are now expanding the model even further – planning not only new schools but even the country’s first underground kindergarten. It’s education as civil defense, learning as resistance.

A City That Refuses to Break

Kharkiv’s population has shrunk by nearly half since the full-scale invasion, yet those who remain embody an unshakable resolve. Streets are cleared, utilities restored, children return to class – acts of quiet defiance performed every day under fire.

“I have made my choice,” Bohdan says simply. “I am staying.”

He has worked for the city for a decade, first in digital transformation, now in civil protection. In Ukraine, “civil protection” or “civil defense” is a function that is not administered by a single agency. It is a coordinated system that includes emergency dispatchers, firefighters, medics, utility crews, and shelter managers – the people who keep a city functioning during missile strikes, blackouts, and other crises. Essentially, it is everyone who defends the civilian population but is not in the armed forces – a role that is as important as it is demanding during a full-scale invasion. And so like many on his young team, Bohdan sleeps little, works fourteen-hour days, and endures the constant stress of alarms and loss. The hardest moments, he admits, are when children die.

“We are a frontier city – not only of defense, but of solutions,” he says. “When something breaks, Kharkiv finds a way to make it work again.”

The Situational Center’s average employee is twenty-nine years old. Together they’ve rebuilt a modern civil defense system once considered impossible. Their early-warning network has ensured that not once in the past year did a missile land in Kharkiv without a prior alert. Other municipalities now look to them as a model for resilience.

Together on the Frontier

Kharkiv stands as both shield and blueprint – proving that, even under siege, a city can innovate, organize, and care for its people. Razom is proud to have supported this frontier of resilience – to equip those who refuse to give up, who keep communication alive in blackout conditions, and who demonstrate that information, when shared swiftly and securely, saves lives.

The work that began in Kharkiv must now expand across Ukraine. The technology exists, the expertise is proven, and the will is unstoppable. What is needed is partnership – the same spirit of razom, “together,” that built the Kharkiv Situational Center in record time.

When Civic Activism Becomes a Full-Time Job, the Mission Stays the Same

Published: January 6, 2026

Ella Petrenko was 26 years old when she founded the NGO Bilozerka Center for Regional Development. What began as an after-work passion project in her home village of Shyroka Balka, Kherson Oblast, has grown into a full-fledged organization with a team of 30 employees and volunteers dedicated to empowering local communities.

“I was born in a village, studied in Kherson, but I always wanted children in villages to have access to cultural and sports opportunities,” said Petrenko. “That’s why I eventually returned to work in the village.”

Her inspiration came from youth workers and civic activists she met in Poland, Denmark, and Sakartvelo. From the very beginning, her organization has intentionally focused on rural communities. “It’s not that we purposely ignore the city of Kherson,” she explained. “It’s just that rural communities are our focus.”

The Bilozerka Center began with youth projects and educational programs. Over the years, it has expanded to support democracy development, environmental awareness, and civic participation. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the work of the NGO shifted dramatically. “After Feb. 24, we had to reorganize completely,” she said. “For the first time, we started distributing humanitarian aid.”

When the full-scale invasion began in 2022 and Russian forces occupied Kherson Oblast, the NGO had to adapt quickly. During the occupation, they were quietly delivering humanitarian aid.

Though Petrenko had always juggled her NGO work with a job at the Migration Service, she made a big decision in 2024 and resigned to focus on the Bilozerka Center full-time.

“That shift was a turning point for me,” she explained. “I realized that doing good work is not enough—you have to do it efficiently and sustainably.”

As the team grew and the projects expanded, so did the operational challenges. Without strong internal systems, burnout set in. “We never had written internal policies,” she said. “We always worked based on trust and intuition. But now, with a larger team and more stress, that’s not enough.”

That’s when she discovered the Sylnishi (Stronger) grant—part of Razom’s effort to build the organizational capacity of its grantee partners.

“Before, we had support from Razom for specific projects,” she said. “But the Sylnishi grant gave us something more important—support for internal growth. That’s what we were lacking.”

Through Sylnishi, the Bilozerka Center received both funding and mentorship to strengthen its strategy, fundraising, and internal communications. They reviewed their mission and goals, developed clear operational policies, and began crafting a strategy for the next three years.

“For the first time in ten years, we sat down as a team and asked ourselves who we are, what our goals are, and what we want to change in our communities,” Petrenko said. “It helped us slow down and reflect.”

One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of staff wellbeing. “We work with communities in crisis every day—violence, trauma, displacement,” she said. “But we hadn’t created any internal support systems for our team.”

With the Sylnishi support, they organized team retreats and introduced mental health resources. “Burnout was a real threat,” she admitted. “Now, we’re trying to build a healthier workplace culture.”

The grant also helped them design a new fundraising strategy. Petrenko acknowledged that previously they relied heavily on a few donors. “We want to diversify, build resilience, and engage more with the communities we serve,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Petrenko remains deeply motivated. Her hope for Ukraine’s future is rooted in the grassroots.

“I see how change starts in small communities,” she said. “It’s not just about big reforms in Kyiv. It’s about what we do in Bilozerka, in small towns and villages, every day.”

She believes that supporting local NGOs isn’t just about charity—it’s a long-term investment in Ukraine’s democratic future. “We’re the ones working with people face-to-face. We know their stories, their needs, their strengths.”

For Petrenko, civic activism is more than a job. It’s a calling.

“I don’t need to motivate myself to keep going,” she said. “When you’re surrounded by people who believe in the same things, who do their work from the heart—it gives you energy.”

Looking ahead, she hopes more organizations can access support like Sylnishi.

“These grants are about more than money,” she said. “They give us time to reflect, to grow, and to build organizations that will be here for the long run.”

With your support, Ukrainian grassroots organizations grow stronger, boosting their impact.

Pryluky: A Future Tech Hub

Published: January 5, 2026

Around the world, the cities that recovered strongest after a crisis did so by investing early in the people who would rebuild them – starting in classrooms. Through school curricula, early exposure to advanced technology created the skilled workforce that later powered entire tech-led recoveries. In the United States, some of the most successful post-industrial cities – places like Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Raleigh, or Austin – didn’t simply “bounce back” after the decline of manufacturing. They reinvented themselves by investing early in STEM education, nurturing local talent, and treating young people not as passengers of a shrinking economy but as the architects of a new one. That reinvention rarely started in obvious “innovation centers.” It began in mid-sized cities that embraced the idea that future prosperity belongs to places that equip their youth with 21st-century skills.

In frontline-adjacent Ukraine today, we are watching something similar take root, and Razom’s STEM investments are helping accelerate that transformation. And we find one of the most inspiring examples in Pryluky, a midsize city in Chernihiv Oblast that saw Russian forces come within ten kilometers in 2022 and still manages daily blackouts. It’s not the first place you’d expect to see cutting-edge robotics education – but stepping inside Pryluky’s Lyceum #1 makes the bright future of Ukraine feel closer than ever. Razom has worked with NGO “The Generation of Success” and its founder Viktoriia Volvich to procure and supply robotics kits to the Lyceum and set up its STEM curriculum.

A Classroom Where the Future Is Being Built

The first thing you notice during one of the regular STEM class periods is a group of boys, huddled in pairs around robot dogs – small, bright creatures made of plastic. Each duo’s face is scrunched up in concentration as they race to beat their classmates and be the first ones to complete the small robot. Thirteen-year-old Zakhar assembled it in just two 30-minute class periods. “It’s a robot dog,” he explains, carefully placing it on the table. “It can spin around and jump like a little projectile.”

When asked how he managed to assemble it so quickly in only his second robotics lesson, he answers simply: “My teacher explained how to do it, and the instructions helped.” He shrugs while responding, a gesture aimed at making it seem like it isn’t a big deal – yet the speed with which the kids grasped the intricacies of motors, sensors, and microcontrollers is nothing short of astonishing. Soon, their next robotics project will up the ante by including coding lessons that will allow the students to program a more complex robot to perform various actions.

But what’s striking about Zakhar is not just his competence, but his clarity about the future he wants to help build. “I think Ukraine will be strong,” he says. “A big, unbreakable country that will win.” He says this while holding the robot he built himself – a small but meaningful sign of what confidence looks like when paired with opportunity.

The teacher Zakhar speaks about is the STEM instructor Oleksii Ivanovych. Before Razom funded robotics kits, he had shown great creativity by teaching robotics concepts using cardboard, scrap wood, and improvised materials. He always believed his students deserved real tools that matched their curiosity. Now that the kits are here, he sees their impact immediately: “We’re finally keeping up with the modern world,” he says. “This equipment teaches kids to think critically, work in teams, discuss problems, and solve them.”

Instead of abstract theory, students now rotate through:

multi-level robotics sets
microcontrollers
motion and temperature sensors
3D printing and laser engraving modules

When asked how the students respond, he smiles. “They love it. They want to come to this class. They’re excited to work and to learn.” He emphasizes that robotics should not just be an elective – it’s foundational. “Robotics is everywhere now,” he says. “Medicine, logistics, industry – almost no field works without it anymore.” For a teacher who once taught mechanical movement using syringes and paper, having proper tools is transformative – for him and for his students. To show his gratitude, Oleksii Ivanovych surprises us with a gift – a laser engraved Razom logo, created using the equipment purchased through the grant program.

While Oleksii Ivanovych pours his heart into his students during each class, it is the Lyceum’s Principal Olena Rohaliova who works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the school has the best resources possible. So when the NGO “The Generation of Success” leader Viktoriia brought Razom’s grant opportunity to her, the decision was immediate. “This has been my dream for a long time,” she admits. “I wanted modern STEM education, but without equipment, there was no way to make it real.”

The moment the grant was approved, she convened an emergency meeting of the school’s pedagogical council and rewrote the school’s educational program to officially introduce robotics as a full course – something no other school in the city had done. “Ukrainian schools often don’t prepare students for real life. We have to give them knowledge that feels meaningful — something interesting enough to pull them away from their phones and into thinking, problem-solving, creating.” For Principal Rohaliova, Razom’s support wasn’t just a material investment – it was a catalyst. “Every dollar you invested is working at 200%,” she says. “You helped make our dream real – not just mine, but our teachers’, our students’, and their parents’.”

And parents definitely feel the positive impact as well. We caught up with Liudmyla, whose eighth-grade son Serhiy attends Lyceum #1. Liudmyla works at the local radio station, which during the first days of the full-scale invasion served as an air raid alert system for the city. This woman with a delicate, melodic voice but with steel character shares how she refused to leave the city as the Russian forces approached and slept at the studio in order to be able to keep the residents safe and informed. Liudmyla understands the importance of technology firsthand, so for her STEM education isn’t abstract — it’s a stabilizing force.

“It’s incredibly hard to motivate kids to learn right now,” she says. “The air-raid alarms, the time spent in shelters… Even though the school’s shelter is wonderful, learning underground is still learning under stress.” But STEM changed something for her son. “STEM helps them understand why they’re learning,” she explains. “They study something in class, then they apply it immediately — they build a project, run an experiment, create a model. It has a direct effect on motivation.” She also notes the sense of accomplishment: “When you’ve built something with your own hands and see the result, it inspires you to do more. STEM doesn’t force kids — it inspires them.” For her son, a naturally thoughtful and responsible teenager, this class gave him a place to test ideas, work with others, and see himself as someone capable of creating solutions.

The parents are not the only ones whose dedication to Pryluky is striking. The robotics program at Lyceum #1 began with local NGO leader Viktoriia, whose love for her city is immediate and unmistakable. “I’m really just a fan of this community,” she says. “I believe young people move Ukraine forward.” Her son’s interest in robotics and her exposure to U.S. exchange programs convinced her that students in Pryluky deserved the same opportunities as students in American schools. She sought out a teacher with passion (she found one), a school ready to change (she convinced one), and equipment that could transform everything (Razom provided it). The result was a project that, in her words, “made kids want to stay in the classroom even during recess to keep building.”

Scaling Up: “Education on Wheels”

What began in Lyceum #1 has now expanded across the city through a second NGO’s program called “Освіта на колесах” (“Education on Wheels”). Coordinator Diana explains the vision: “Kids in a city like Pryluky should have the same opportunities as kids in the capital city of Kyiv,” she says simply.

Their NGO model:

trains computer science teachers citywide
shares microcontroller boards for learning coding and electronics and robotics kits across all schools
rotates equipment every two months
provides full lesson plans and methodology
ensures access even during blackouts by offering backup learning spaces

Diana’s motivation is rooted in wartime experience. “Our path through 2022 shaped who we are now,” she says. “It taught us how to adapt, how to organize, how to keep educating kids even when everything around us was falling apart.” This program didn’t just expand STEM – it built a citywide community of teachers and students learning together, sharing tools, and raising the bar for what’s possible.

What’s happening in Pryluky is more than a robotics class. It’s a blueprint for rebuilding a country from the inside out. Future drone engineers, medical roboticists, software developers, cybersecurity specialists, and startup founders start here, with a robot dog that sparks interest, a teacher who finally has the right tools, and an NGO leader unwilling to accept “impossible”. This is Razom’s model in motion: a small, catalytic investment leads to local leadership, which in turn generates exponential community impact.

Principal Rohaliova said it best: “We had the people. We had the ideas. But these kits from Razom made it possible to bring it all to life.” That is how future tech hubs begin – in the classrooms of cities some might overlook, but where hope, skill, and determination are already abundant.

We invite you to become a part of making dreams come true and helping children prepare for the future in which they apply their skills and knowledge to advancing the techonolgical innovation for a peceful, secure, and prosperous Ukraine.

From Famine to Fertility: How Ukrainians Are Reclaiming Food Security with Razom’s Support

Published: November 18, 2025

Every year in late November, Ukrainians around the world light candles in their windows to honor the millions of lives lost during the Holodomor – the man-made famine engineered by the Soviet regime in 1932–1933. It was not a natural disaster but a weapon of extermination, designed to break a nation by starving its people and erasing its farmers.

For Ukrainians, food has never been merely sustenance – it is memory, dignity, and defiance. And today, nearly a century later, the aggressor’s tactics have evolved but not changed.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, grain silos have been bombed, fields mined and burned, ports blockaded, and farmers targeted. Once again, food is used as a weapon – this time to undermine Ukraine’s economy, global food supply, and the will of ordinary people to stay and rebuild.

But Ukraine fights back not only on the battlefield. Every garden planted, every greenhouse restored, every seed sown is an act of resistance. Through its grantmaking and partnership network, Razom for Ukraine supports those who refuse to let destruction define their future. One such partner is the CF Free Borsht Initiative, whose project “Earn on the Farm” helps displaced Ukrainians and local residents regain both food security and livelihoods.

Growing Hope Amid War

With Razom’s $30,000 grant under the Razom Jobs program, Free Borsch launched an intensive training initiative across Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, aimed at helping internally displaced persons (IDPs) and locals start small-scale farming.

Participants – many of whom fled occupied or frontline regions – joined online and in-person sessions to learn everything from vegetable and berry cultivation to hydroponics, marketing, and risk management. Despite constant air raids and disruptions, the results far exceeded expectations.

By the end of the program, over 400 people became direct beneficiaries, including 147 individuals who completed the full course and more than 260 family members they brought into the work. Many of those graduates, in turn, shared what they learned with neighbors and peers, bringing the total reach of the project to more than 600 people across three regions of Ukraine. Even more inspiring, 59 participants have already launched micro-farms or new agribusiness ventures – real families creating real income and food stability in communities under threat.

“We made our course simple, practical, and human,” says Oleksandr Pavlovskyi, director of Free Borsch. “For many displaced families, farming became a way to feed their children, to heal from trauma, and to feel in control of their future again.”

Stories from the Field

Viktoria Kryvonos, 45, fled the destroyed city of Lyman in Donetsk region with her husband. In Poltava oblast, they started from scratch – just two pairs of hands and 1.5 hectares of rented land.

“Thanks to the ‘Earn on the Farm’ program,” Viktoria says, “we learned about greenhouse cultivation. We built a small greenhouse, planted cucumbers, and sold our first harvest for a good price.”

That “small” greenhouse of 60 square meters produced 460 kilograms of cucumbers, earning the couple over 23,000 hryvnias and giving them confidence to expand next year.

Anzhelina Andrusenko, 43, was displaced from the flooded, occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson region. Settling with her family in Lviv oblast, she too started over – this time under a plastic greenhouse roof.

“We built a tiny greenhouse, set up drip irrigation, and grew our first cucumbers,” she says. That first crop yielded 800 kilograms, generating more than 36,000 hryvnias – their first income in exile. “Now I know this is our future,” Anzhelina adds. “We can stand on our own feet again.”

In the Mykolaiv region, where air raid sirens punctuate every workday, Tetiana Buhlakova, 46, found solace and purpose in cultivating beauty.

“I learned how to propagate chrysanthemums,” she explains. “Every single cutting took root!”
She grew 200 chrysanthemum bushes for sale, plus 500 strawberry seedlings, turning knowledge into income and pride:
“This course didn’t just teach me farming – it reminded me that I can create life even when everything around feels uncertain.”

One of the program’s most inspiring community leaders is Oksana Marton, who turned her small family plot in Kharkiv Oblast into a flourishing chrysanthemum garden. What began as a simple effort to restore beauty after months of occupation has grown into a shared space where neighbors gather, talk, breathe, and remember what peace feels like.

For Oksana, these flowers are more than decoration — they are protection.
“We’re not just tending to plants,” she says. “We’re taking care of the mental health of the people in our village. The garden gives them something living to hold on to.”

Her chrysanthemums have become a symbol of quiet resilience: a reminder that even in places scarred by war, communities can nurture hope one blossom at a time.

And in the frontline-adjacent Chernihiv region, 32-year-old Mykola Sylenko built a 160 m² greenhouse and harvested 1.2 tons of early cucumbers despite constant shelling.

“The biggest lesson I learned,” he says, “is that you must think ahead. Problems come fast in farming – and in war – but when you plan, you overcome. I’ve already made my first sales. It’s a successful start.”

Cultivating Livability

Food security in wartime is about far more than calories. It is about stability, dignity, and belonging. Every greenhouse erected and every seed sown says: We are still here. We will live.

Through projects like Free Borsch, Razom is rebuilding Ukraine’s capacity to feed itself – empowering individuals to turn soil into sustenance and knowledge into livelihood. This is part of Razom’s broader commitment to ensuring livability in Ukraine: a future where people can stay, rebuild, and thrive despite the war’s cruelty.

At a time when Russia seeks to make Ukraine unlivable, Razom and its partners are working to ensure that communities across the country not only survive but flourish – through education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and opportunity. Supporting projects like Free Borsch is one of the many ways we help sow the seeds of that livable future.

Together, We Grow

From the Holodomor’s silent fields to today’s shelled farmland, Ukrainians have learned that food can be both a weapon and salvation. By helping families grow their own harvests, Razom transforms survival into strength – and despair into resilience.

As we remember the victims of the Holodomor, we honor them best by ensuring that no Ukrainian ever faces hunger or hopelessness again. Join us in making Ukraine more secure, more resilient, and more livable. Together, we plant the future.

Razom Stronger 3.0: Knowledge, Partnerships, and a Generation Shaping the Future

На днях у Києві відбулася третя щорічна конференція грантерів Razom for Ukraine — «Razom Сильніші 3.0». Подія зібрала понад 200 представників громадських та благодійних організацій, які працюють із громадами, ветеранами, молоддю, освітою та відбудовою.

Published: November 14, 2025

Recently, the third annual Razom for Ukraine Grantee Conference – “Razom Stronger 3.0” – took place in Kyiv. The event brought together more than 200 representatives of civil society and charitable organizations working with communities, veterans, youth, education, and reconstruction.

This year’s central theme was learning—not academic learning, but living, experience-based learning born from mistakes, new ideas, and networking. Among the speakers and participants were well-known public figures, educators, and veterans whose organizations Razom also supports through its grant programs. This once again highlights Razom’s systemic approach: we not only organize events that strengthen communities but also empower those who drive change on the ground every day.

The two-day program featured over twenty sessions, ranging from panel discussions with donors and businesses to workshops on team emotional resilience. One of the most anticipated lectures was delivered by Valerii Pekar—entrepreneur, educator, and public intellectual—who spoke about “Scenarios for the Future” and the civic agenda for Ukraine after the war. His statement that “Ukrainians must not only rebuild, but also rethink” became a recurring theme throughout the conference.

Another powerful highlight was the panel “Warrior. Leader. Community,” featuring Andrii Zelinskyi, military chaplain, chair of the supervisory board of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, and educator, alongside Maksym Butkevych, human rights advocate and veteran. They spoke about the cost of experience, post-frontline transformation, and the responsibility of civil society in helping people return to life.

Participants noted that this year’s focus shifted from exchanging grant practices to building a shared vision. “The conference created an incredible atmosphere of networking, new connections, and learning. We’re already planning projects with new partners,” one participant shared. This synergy is precisely what defines Razom Stronger 3.0.

Over two days, the event became an intensive laboratory for leaders, featuring practical sessions on fundraising, communications, cooperation with businesses, and team development. Participants suggested creating regional chat groups, an open contact database, and more time for informal discussions. “After meeting here, we can now launch joint projects,” one attendee summarized.

Ultimately, Razom Stronger 3.0 demonstrated that Ukraine’s civil society sector is entering a new stage of growth—a space where not only organizations but also people evolve, proving each day that rebuilding is not merely a process but a state of a society that refuses to break.

ImpactUA Internships: From Three Weeks to a Lifetime of Commitment

Published: November 12, 2025

Every year on November 17, the world marks International Students’ Day, honoring the power of student voices to shape societies and spark change. It is a day that reminds us that young people are often at the forefront of movements for freedom, democracy, and justice.

At Razom, we believe that students are not just learners – they are leaders, connectors, and future changemakers. That is why, on this International Students’ Day, we highlight the stories of three remarkable young people – Olha, Conor, and Aidan – who took part in the first-ever ImpactUA program that Razom partnered on with Brave Generation. Their experiences in Ukraine demonstrate how students can become lifelong advocates, allies, and builders of the future.

Olha: Building Pathways for Veterans

For Olha Burdeina, a Ukrainian student at Brown University, ImpactUA was more than an internship – it was a step toward realizing her vision of creating reintegration opportunities for veterans. Paired with the Unbroken Rehabilitation Center in Lviv, Olha found herself not only supporting administrative tasks but also engaging directly with veterans.

Her most powerful memories come from facilitating stop-motion animation workshops designed for veterans. She recalls how difficult it was at first to connect with participants:

“Working with veterans is not easy, especially if you are with them only for three days. Sometimes they don’t feel like opening up. Sometimes you just need to sit in silence. But then they start to share, and those conversations change you.”

One veteran in particular left a mark on her: Michael, an American who lost his arm while fighting for Ukraine. Olha served as his interpreter during the workshops and later helped organize a special evening – opera tickets and dinner – so that Michael and his fellow servicemen could simply feel like ordinary people again.

“I just wanted them to feel like they are people. They are not defined by their trauma. They can connect, laugh, and be part of something bigger.”

But Olha’s story doesn’t end with ImpactUA. Over the summer, she launched Reborn, a veteran reintegration initiative in her home region of Chernivtsi, with support from the Projects for Peace Foundation. The program offers English language training and community engagement for returning soldiers.

Looking ahead, Olha dreams of a Ukraine where veterans are fully reintegrated into society, recognized not only for their sacrifice but also for their potential.

“I want to see a Ukraine where veterans have the skills, the opportunities, and the community support to live full lives after the war. That is the country I want to help build.”

Conor: Teaching Ethics for a Technological Future

For Conor, a student pursuing a dual degree in artificial intelligence and data science between CentraleSupélec (Université Paris-Saclay) and ESSEC Business School, the experience in Ukraine reshaped not only how he views the country, but also how he intends to apply his academic expertise.

During his internship, Conor worked with Unbroken, engaging with staff and veterans and seeing firsthand how technology intersects with healing. But what truly struck him was the resilience and openness of the Ukrainian people.

“I don’t want to give clichés like ‘resilient,’ but it’s true. What impressed me most was the ambition and forward-thinking attitude of Ukraine’s young people. Ukraine is a country run by people who are determined to create a future against all odds.”

Inspired by this spirit, Conor has already made plans to return. Later this year, he will travel back to Ukraine to lead workshops for students on AI ethics, ensuring that Ukrainian youth are not only rebuilding their country but also preparing to lead in the rapidly evolving technological world.

When asked about the Ukraine he envisions, Conor reflected on the balance between rebuilding and innovating:

“The Ukraine I want to see is one that doesn’t just recover from war, but that sets an example for the world – showing how ethics and innovation can go hand in hand. It’s a future where young Ukrainians are shaping technology responsibly, and where their creativity drives global conversations.”

Aidan: Journalism with Purpose

For Aidan Stretch, a recent Yale graduate, ImpactUA was the doorway to a new chapter of life. With a background in history and journalism, Aidan had long been interested in Eastern Europe. But it was the program that gave him his first immersion in Ukraine, introducing him to organizations like Cities4Cities and connecting him with networks that continue to support his work.

Aidan now lives in Kyiv, working as a freelance journalist and contributing to outlets like The Free Press and The Kyiv Independent. He’s committed to staying for at least three years. He credits ImpactUA with giving him the soft skills, networks, and cultural insights to begin this journey:

“The network itself was incredibly important. And just beginning to understand how to have conversations with Ukrainians – how to skip the small talk and get to the real stories – was essential. Those are lessons I use every single day now.”

For Aidan, Ukraine is not just a subject of reporting; it’s a cause. He sees journalism as a way to bring real Ukrainian voices into international conversations that too often exclude them.

“The worst things in history happen when decisions are made in rooms without the people who are actually affected. Programs like this ensure that their voices are heard – through us, through our work, through the stories we tell.”

When asked about the Ukraine he envisions, Aidan was clear-eyed but hopeful:

“Ukraine will be a Western democracy and a part of the EU – that’s inevitable. But my hope is that alongside reconstruction, people pay attention to what comes next: building inclusive institutions, dealing with migration, strengthening civil society. Ukraine’s fight is not only to survive, but to thrive.”

A Common Thread: From Observers to Advocates

Though their paths differ, Olha, Conor, and Aidan share a common transformation. They arrived as students eager to learn. They left as advocates determined to act. For Olha, it’s through building her own NGO for veterans. For Conor, it’s through returning to teach ethical AI in Ukraine. For Aidan, it’s through embedding himself in Kyiv to tell Ukraine’s story to the world.

Their journeys prove that Impact UA is not just a summer internship. It is a seedbed for lifelong advocacy. What makes these stories even more powerful is that none of the students spoke only about their own careers. Each reflected on the Ukraine they hope to see – and their answers reveal a deep sense of responsibility.

For Olha, it is a Ukraine where veterans are not left behind but are empowered to contribute to society. For Conor, it is a Ukraine that doesn’t just rebuild but innovates—one that leads global conversations about ethics and technology. For Aidan, it is a Ukraine firmly integrated into the democratic West, resilient enough to face future challenges while building inclusive institutions.

Impact that Endures

The war in Ukraine is not only fought on battlefields – it is fought in classrooms, boardrooms, media outlets, and global conversations. The students who participate in ImpactUA return to those arenas equipped not only with knowledge, but with lived experience. They know what it feels like to descend into a bomb shelter during an air raid. They know the sound of laughter in a café where life continues in spite of war. They know the faces of veterans who refuse to be defined by trauma. And they carry these truths with them wherever they go.

As Olha put it:

“Ukraine gained real advocates in the United States and beyond. These are people who will always be connected to Ukraine. They’ll be our ambassadors.”

From Ukraine to Campuses Worldwide

ImpactUA shows how powerful student engagement can be in shaping the future of Ukraine. But the journey does not end with three weeks on the ground. For many students, it sparks a lifelong commitment.

That is why Razom also leads Ukraine on Campus – a movement connecting students and educators across the U.S. who are raising awareness, investing in the interdisciplinary study of Ukraine, organizing cultural events, and advocating for Ukraine in their universities and communities. (Learn more at ukraineoncampus.org). If you are inspired by Olha, Conor, and Aidan’s stories, there are many ways to get involved. Whether you are a student starting a Ukrainian club, a professor seeking to host Ukrainian scholars, or simply someone who believes in amplifying Ukrainian voices, Ukraine on Campus provides a pathway to act. While not every student has the chance to experience Ukraine firsthand like Olha, Conor, and Aidan, Ukraine on Campus has set up toolkits to help bring Ukrainian stories to campuses here in the States: right now, you can apply for a university film screening toolkit of 2000 Meters to Andriivka, where, in his follow-up to Oscar®-winner 20 Days in Mariupol, Pulitzer-winning AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov again immerses us, cinematically and emotionally, in the war in Ukraine.

International Students’ Day is a reminder that student voices matter. ImpactUA has proven that short-term immersion can create long-term allies. For donors, it is an investment in leadership that multiplies over decades. For students around the world, it is an invitation: come, learn, and stand with Ukraine – not as an observer, but as a creator of its future.

How Veteran Taras Buhaienko Finds Purpose in Adaptive Archery

Published: September 24, 2025

Taras Buhaienko, 46, from Ivano-Frankivsk, is not a man who sugarcoats things. Even though his legs hurt constantly, his spirit remains unshaken. A seasoned soldier, a proud father, and now a certified archery instructor, Buhaienko has transformed unimaginable hardship into purpose — thanks, in part, to an adaptive sports program.

Buhaienko’s path to rehabilitation began long before he picked up a bow. He first joined the fight against the Russian invasion in 2014, driven by a deep sense of duty. “I couldn’t just sit back. I went to defend my homeland,” he said.

His first deployment resulted in an injury that earned him a third-degree disability. Still, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, he volunteered again, and this time, the toll was even greater.

In March 2023, near the village of Lyman, Buhaienko sustained a life-threatening injury. “A [kamikaze] drone flew right toward my chest. Somehow, I managed to knock it down with my right hand — which turned black for months — and it exploded under my feet instead of hitting my head,” he recalls.

The blast damaged both legs, affecting the pancreas and his kidneys. “I thought they’d amputate,” he admitted. “I lost toes, including a big one, which I never knew was so essential for balance.”

Buhaienko spent seven agonizing hours on the battlefield before evacuation. Hypothermia likely saved his life, slowing his body functions just enough. From the war zone, he was transferred to hospitals in Sloviansk, Kyiv, Lviv, and eventually, Ivano-Frankivsk. There, in a local hospital, his long rehabilitation began.

“Pool therapy changed everything,” he said. “I couldn’t squat before. Now I can, thanks to the right exercises and excellent trainers.”

But it wasn’t just physical recovery he needed. Like many veterans, Buhaienko struggled with the emotional aftermath of war. That is when he discovered the Petros program.

The Petros, organized by the Re:Textile Group in Ivano-Frankivsk and supported by Razom, assists wounded veterans through two core areas: therapeutic and educational workshops during recovery and adaptive sports, including Olympic-style archery. The program helps participants regain confidence, find community, and explore new opportunities during and after their rehabilitation.

Buhaienko stumbled upon an announcement for archery instructor training and decided to apply. “I just needed something to do. Sitting at home was driving me mad,” he said.

The training was led by Kateryna Dubrovina, a silver medalist in archery at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “She taught us both the theory and the practice,” Buhaienko said. “We trained a lot, and thanks to her guidance, we really learned to shoot properly.”

At the final event, the Petros Cup, Buhaienko unexpectedly won first place in his category.

“Archery is deeply personal,” he said. “The bow is adjusted for me. It’s a sport where you can’t hide. It gets a grip on you.”

Buhaienko is now working to open his own archery club for veterans and wounded soldiers near Ivano-Frankivsk. “We’re planning to base it close to a rehabilitation center or hospital,” he said. He already has support from local officials and hopes to secure funding and equipment soon. “If I get one bow, one stand, and a few arrows, I’ll be thrilled,” he said. “That’s enough to start.”

“We, veterans, need to feel needed,” Buhaienko said. “Programs like these give us a sense that we’re not forgotten, that we’re not defeated. Archery gives us confidence, community, and a new role. When you’re an instructor, there’s added responsibility. You’re helping someone just like you.”

Looking to the future, Buhaienko dreams of a strong and independent Ukraine. “We have everything we need,” he said. “I want our country to be a pillar of security in Europe, and our veterans to be respected as the foundation of that strength.”

With your support, Razom is able to support the heroes as they adapt to civilian life after they gave it all, protecting their families and standing for democratic values.

The ImpactUA Internship Program: Transforming Student Potential into Lasting Change for Ukraine

Published: September 15, 2025

The future of Ukraine is being built today – thanks to the energy of young people, their ideas, activity, and readiness to act. Young leaders are able to combine global experience with local needs, turning the initiative of a generation into a driving force for change. It is precisely this belief in youth proactivity that became the foundation of the ImpactUA program – a joint initiative of Razom for Ukraine and Brave Generation. Its goal is to engage students from leading U.S. universities, as well as Ukrainian students studying abroad, in actively contributing to real change in Ukraine – not as observers, but as creators.

For three weeks, program participants immersed themselves in the work of civil society organizations supporting communities affected by the war. They witnessed the daily resilience, ingenuity, and persistence of people keeping the country moving. The program gave students not only practical experience working with Ukrainian NGOs, but also a deeper understanding of the historical, cultural, and social context. Combining academic knowledge with lived experience created a solid foundation for international support of Ukrainian partners.

Participants in the program were carefully selected. Active, goal-driven students from top universities worldwide came to Ukraine, representing a range of academic disciplines. This added multidimensionality to the program and strengthened the synergy between international perspectives and local expertise. Impact UA became not only a platform for intercultural exchange, but also a hub for shaping a new generation of young leaders capable of working shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainian communities and creating lasting impact.

Preparation for the internship began even before the students arrived and became the first step of their experience. Online sessions provided opportunities for introductions, psychological support, and discussions of future challenges with leading experts. Marci Shore, a professor of history at Yale University, helped them dive into the cultural and historical context, while Phil Kaplan with Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs shared practical knowledge of international politics and the humanitarian field. Special attention was given to safety: protocols for air raid alarms, rules of conduct, and principles of personal security that allowed participants to feel confident and focus on learning and work.

After arriving in Lviv, students entered their first immersion environment – where the multifaceted reality of Ukraine began to reveal itself in all its complexity. The trip, organized by the program team, provided a safe and smooth entry into the new context.

The first days of the internship became an intensive educational experience, where Ukraine’s history, politics, and culture intertwined with personal stories and present realities. An unforgettable moment was meeting Dora Chomiak, co-founder and CEO of Razom for Ukraine. Her story inspired students to recognize their own ability to be creators of change. Subsequent lectures and excursions deepened this understanding: Yaroslav Hrytsak, a professor of Ukrainian history, illuminated complex historical processes; Myroslav Marynovych, Ukrainian educator, human rights activist, and former Soviet dissident, shared his experience in the dissident movement; Yurii Pidlisnyi, a professor of political science, explained the mechanisms of civil society. A later visit to the museum-memorial of victims of occupation regimes offered greater understanding of the struggle for freedom.

A particularly powerful impression was left by the Superhumans Center – a modern rehabilitation center for those injured by the war. There, students learned about approaches to prosthetics and witnessed the scale of social power in action.

The cultural program of integration days added an emotional dimension: an icon-painting workshop, a barbecue with folk music, conversations about traditions, cooking varenyky and making chocolate – all of this offered a chance to touch living Ukrainian culture and see its relevance today.

The knowledge and skills acquired in the first days became a strong foundation for individual internships in NGOs, matched to each student’s interests. It was an opportunity to try themselves in different roles – from journalism and working with veterans to IT, fundraising, or managing social media.

For many, this became a defining moment in their professional lives. “My internship confirmed: I want to become a psychologist,” shared Anastasiia Shulhan, who worked with the NGO Ridni. She attended a workshop for psychologists on complex topics related to children and foster families – and, for the first time, felt she was exactly where she belonged.

Many others had similar revelations. Evelina Benderska, who had previously studied trauma in an academic context, noted: “This experience deepened my academic and professional interests. Now I want to study even more deeply how trauma affects Ukrainian society.”

After the program ended, some participants stayed in Ukraine to immerse themselves further in the country’s life, while others continue supporting Ukraine from abroad. One student, Aiden Stretch, decided to spend the next year in Ukraine, working as a journalist and reporting on the war for the American audience.

Impact UA became more than an internship – it was a transformative experience. The program showed that rebuilding a country begins not only with global projects or government decisions, but with simple human connections. These ties allowed students to experience Ukraine not at a distance, but up close – and to become its voice in the world. As one participant, Kristofers Krumins, said:

“This experience reminded me of something very simple but incredibly important: politics, international relations, even war – it’s all about people. When you have personal contacts in Ukraine, when you hear their stories – your perception inevitably changes. Reading the morning news about drones and missiles feels very different when you know people who have to fall asleep under shelling every night.”

This project proved a simple but powerful truth: Ukraine is not only a country demonstrating resilience in war. It is a country actively creating its future. Here, a new generation of leaders from around the world is emerging – those who do not just observe, but act alongside Ukrainians, learning and changing the world together with us.

Building a new career thread by thread: Svitlana Rohozyan’s path from oil to needle

Published: September 4, 2025

“I was about to become an engineer,” says Svitlana Rohozyan, 51, a woman from Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast. She used to work at the local oil refinery and was getting ready for a promotion. She was raising the child she had long prayed for. “Life began to get back on track,” she said. However, the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed it all. Part of the Luhansk Oblast was occupied back in 2014, so Rohozyan’s hometown authorities and volunteers immediately began evacuating people, knowing that Russian attacks would escalate.

The Rohozyan family relocated to their farmhouse, not too far from Lysychansk, thinking it would be safer there. “Still holding on to hope that everything will be okay—I planted parsley, carrots, beets, and dill. My child loves those very much,” the woman said. However, severe explosions were getting closer, and she decided to flee.

In mid-April 2022, Rohozyan took her 6-year-old son, Yaroslav, and boarded the cramped evacuation train to Lviv, after getting to the station by bus—all while Russians were shelling the area. The family escaped before the missile damaged their apartment in Lysychansk, and the city was completely occupied in July 2022.

“The only thing I regret is that the icon [holy image] we used for our child’s baptism—I didn’t take it with me. That’s what I regret the most. That little icon stayed behind. You know, I looked at it and left it there, thinking it would protect the house,” Rohozyan said.

Starting from scratch in Lviv was tough. They settled in a dormitory and had to fit in a tiny room with only two beds, together with another family, surviving on internally displaced persons (IDPs) financial aid. Her chemical engineering background became useless, as there were no such businesses nearby. There were some customer service job openings in the area, but Rohozyan could not leave Yaroslav alone.

One day, Rohozyan saw an announcement on Facebook about the School of Sewing Arts, hosted by the West Ukrainian Fashion Industry Cluster (WUFIC) and sponsored by Razom.

“Sewing was my hobby. I used to hem costumes for my son. I also made a lot of clothing for myself. But I understood that I had little knowledge,” she said. She was excited to join the course, but evening sessions didn’t work well with her son’s schedule. Later, she received a call saying a daytime group had been formed and asking if she wanted to join. “I joined with such joy! I was waiting for this,” she recalls.

The School of Sewing Arts’ goal is to teach IDPs tailoring skills, provide graduates with job placement support, and promote growth within the field. It is being implemented in two cities—Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. 84 women have already graduated from sewing courses.

Every cohort of future seamstresses is trained for three months. “We sewed skirts, pants, and tops. I sewed myself the skorts I wanted so much,” Rohozyan said. She shared that her favorite part was learning the technology of measuring and cutting out fabric.

“The most interesting is the technique of making those patterns. It’s really fascinating. At first, you don’t understand where the line goes or what it leads to, and then suddenly, you already have a pair of pants,” Rohozyan said.

Rohozyan described her experience during the course as “fun and amazing,” saying she felt like part of a family with the other students and teachers. The group had two instructors—a garment technician and a tailor. “One teaches us how to make patterns, and the other teaches us how to sew on the machine. First, we learn to make the pattern, then we transfer it from paper to fabric [and sew],” Rohozyan explained. “I’m grateful that they [WUFIC, supported by Razom] provided us with fabric, and we didn’t have to run around looking for any.”

The project inspired Rohozyan to seek opportunities to expand her knowledge in the craft. Together with the women she met at the sewing school, she started spending her Saturdays at her former instructor, garment technician Viktoria Karpova’s place, striving to learn more advanced techniques.

After the project, “a job found me on its own,” Rohozyan said. Karpova was looking for women to work at her sewing business, which she relocated from the currently besieged city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, to Lviv. Rohozyan accepted the offer and now works part-time for KVK Pokrovchanka.

“I gained knowledge. I now have a job that I enjoy. I like the products we sew, and if you like the products, you like the work that goes into making them. It [apparel] is beautiful, high-quality, and well-made, and you realize that your hands helped create it,” Rohozyan said.

Rohozyan dreams of starting her own business. When she joined the sewing courses, she had a clear goal in mind—to learn the craft and eventually open a clothing repair shop. For now, she hopes to begin with something small. “I want my own home sewing machine—not a professional one, but a modern one,” she said. Rohozyan added that even a basic machine at home would allow her to get started and earn some income. At the moment, she works on an old treadle machine, which can’t compete with electric models, but as she laughed, “it’s great when there’s no electricity.”

“I truly want peace, so that my child is no longer afraid of the sounds of explosions,” Rohozyan said. She recalls her son imitating missile and drone sounds, which he should never have heard. “I don’t want children to know that kind of fear—the fear of losing everything,” she continued. “Yes, you’ve saved your life and your child’s life, but everything you’ve worked for your whole life—it’s all gone.”

8-year-old Yaroslav now studies at a local school, plays fortepiano, and attends drone construction courses. Rohozyan’s husband is fighting for Ukraine.

Rohozyan believes that Ukraine’s prosperity is deeply tied to the well-being of its people. With so many IDPs having lost their jobs, reskilling initiatives like Razom Jobs are key to driving change. “If Ukraine prospers, so will its people. If everyone gets a job, the country will become wealthy. If everyone is willing to work and to earn money, then the country will have money, too,” she said.

Thanks to your support, Razom is able to provide avid learners like Rohozyan with opportunities to gain skills and thrive in a new, exciting field on a professional level.

A Teen’s Innovation Making Sapper Work Safer with Recycled Plastic: The Story of Iryna Vynar

Published: July 31, 2025

Ukrainian teenagers are built differently. War makes them grow up quickly and take on responsibilities they were not supposed to handle. But tough realities create a strong nation and responsible young leaders who know the importance of being proactive citizens. Like the rest of the world, Ukrainians have to deal with ecological issues, but in addition, they face military pollution, which contributes to the degradation of the environment. Almost 20% of Ukraine’s territory is mined and might take a dozen years to clear, experts say.

Iryna Vynar, 17, from Boryslav, Lviv Oblast, has always been interested in ecology and biology. She was 14 when the full-scale invasion started, and her father joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She has changed a lot since then.

“Each of us has grown up,” Iryna said. “I realized that now I have to take responsibility. Right after the start of the full-scale invasion, I knew I wanted to contribute somehow to bring our victory closer.”

This nudged Iryna to create a plastic shield—a tool that would both help reuse plastic and make the mines safer.

She developed her idea during the uBoost’s “Create HERE!” program, supported by Razom. Iryna’s grandma saw an announcement and encouraged Iryna to apply.

uBoost is a free educational platform empowering teenagers aged 13–23 from frontline communities and small towns in Ukraine to develop soft skills, launch their own projects, and connect with industry mentors to support their professional and entrepreneurial journeys.

During the program, Iryna learned the basics of entrepreneurship and marketing. The most impactful part, she said, was working with a mentor, who helped her feel more confident about her idea.

“At first, I was a bit worried—maybe something wouldn’t work out, maybe I was doing something wrong. But the support played a huge role for me. It helped me a lot.

By the time I was pitching my project, I wasn’t scared anymore—everything felt great,” she said.

Iryna created the plastic shield for mines that would protect people clearing and operating landmines and give new life to plastic waste. The shield is made of three strong layers that absorb shocks, provide insulation, and guard against mechanical damage. Iryna’s invention can be used for controlled detonation, post-war demining, and safe transportation of mines.

Iryna believes that her idea can make a significant impact, not just for people, but for animals, plants, and the entire ecosystem. “It can really help not only us,” she said, “but the ecosystem that affects us all so deeply.”

Iryna is currently looking for companies that can manufacture the plastic shield to help her dad be safer and the environment cleaner. She plans to continue her journey in the field of environmental protection in the future. This year, she finished her first year at the Ukrainian National Forestry University.

uBoost is supporting teenagers who develop their ventures in various areas, whether it’s creating psychological cards, personalized decorative boxes, or a modest clothing brand. Iryna said it was “incredibly great to talk to people who are developing completely different kinds of projects.”

“Our country will need to be rebuilt, and that responsibility will fall on the shoulders of this generation. And when you see young people developing and trying to do something, it brings a lot of joy,” she said.

With your support, Ukrainian youth have the opportunity to implement impactful projects and gain empowerment through mission-driven organizations like uBoost, supported by Razom.