How Women Become Stronger — and Support Others

In the first half of 2025, the team of NGO “Unique Country” implemented one of our warmest and, at the same time, most practical projects — “SEED: Strengthening Women’s Economic Empowerment for Recovery and Development”, with the support of the Ministry of International Affairs of Canada. The project was implemented in partnership with Acted Ukraine, an organization with whom we share a common vision: women who have knowledge, support and a safe space for development can strengthen not only themselves, but also their communities.

We worked in Zhmerynka — in a space that, for many people, has already become a place of learning, meetings, support and recovery. It was here that we held a series of trainings for women from vulnerable groups: internally displaced women, service-sector workers, mothers from large families, and women who want to be useful in their communities and feel more confident in difficult life situations.

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We did not simply teach — we created a space of support

Over several weeks, four meaningful meetings took place. These were not only trainings in the traditional sense, but also a space of live interaction where participants could learn, ask questions, practise new skills, share experiences and feel support around them.

The “Unique Country” team conducted:

• two practical trainings on first aid;
• one additional training in a beauty salon — at the invitation of local women professionals;
• a training on psychological first aid.

Each meeting had its own atmosphere, but all of them were united by a shared goal: to give participants knowledge that can become a source of support in a critical moment, while also strengthening their belief in their own ability to act.

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What we explored and learned together

During the first aid trainings, participants learned how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, stop bleeding, respond to electric shock and act in other emergency situations. But working with fear was no less important: the fear of not knowing, not being able to help, freezing or accidentally causing harm.

Step by step, this fear was replaced by a clearer understanding: in a crisis, a person does not have to be perfectly prepared, but they can know basic algorithms, stay present and do something that can truly help.

During the psychological first aid training, we talked about anxiety, PTSD, the body’s reactions to stress, breathing exercises and ways of self-support. Participants drew, worked with dough modelling, explored their own coping strategies, and discussed how to support themselves and others in moments of tension, loss or uncertainty.

For many, this became not only a learning experience, but also an opportunity to see that support can be simple, human and deeply important. Sometimes it begins with attentive listening, calm presence and the ability not to leave a person alone with what they are going through.

“I did not expect to feel so much warmth among strangers. It gave me strength and a new sense of support.”

“Now I am not just a mother or a craftswoman — I am a person who can help others in a difficult moment.”

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How we invited participants

We shared information about the trainings through social media, partners, personal networks, local institutions and communities. We wanted participation in the project to be accessible first of all to those who truly needed this support: women who had experienced loss, forced displacement, traumatic events, or were looking for new sources of support for themselves and their families.

At the same time, we kept the space open to everyone who had a sincere desire to learn. Several men also joined some of the meetings, which once again showed that skills of help, care and crisis response are important for the entire community.

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What changed

During the project:

• more than 35 women and men gained practical skills in first aid and psychological first aid;
• dozens of families, work teams and local communities became better prepared for crisis situations;
• participants gained more confidence in their ability to act in moments of danger or intense stress;
• horizontal connections between women were strengthened, enabling them to support one another and pass on knowledge further;
• the community now has more people who know how to be present for those who need help.

For us, this project became important confirmation that knowledge, a safe space and human support can strengthen not only individuals, but the community as a whole — especially when learning is combined with respect, trust and attentiveness to participants’ life experiences.

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Our thanks

• To every participant — for your trust, openness, courage to learn and willingness to be there for others.
• To Acted Ukraine — for partnership and support for important local initiatives.
• To the Ministry of International Affairs of Canada — for supporting a project aimed at strengthening women, communities and practical mutual-aid skills.
• To Zhmerynka City Council and the Employment Centre — for helping share information and engage participants.

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What comes next?

We see that projects like this are needed. They help people not only gain new knowledge, but also feel more prepared, confident and connected to their community.

For NGO “Unique Country”, this experience became a foundation for future initiatives aimed at developing practical skills, mutual support, safety and resilience in communities. We continue working so that people have more knowledge, resources and professional support for their own development and for the development of the environment in which they live.

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