Kharkiv Association of Community Initiatives Support (ASSA)
The Kharkiv NGO Association of Community Initiatives Support “ASSA” empowers women, children, and youth through education, civic engagement, and community-building. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, ASSA has adapted its projects to meet the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), offering psychological support, art therapy, and opportunities to integrate into local social and cultural life.
With support from our Giving Joy grant, ASSA launched a new initiative to empower local women, including IDPs, through hands-on training in nontraditional and emerging fields. The goal was to help women find their place in today’s world, achieve financial stability, provide for their families, and restore their mental well-being.
To achieve this, ASSA organized three master classes:
Landscape Design – Seventeen women, including five IDPs, participated in a two-part training that combined theory with practical sessions using professional landscaping tools. This workshop challenged stereotypes about “male” professions and showed women that the field is both accessible and in demand.
Humanitarian Demining – Fourteen women explored this socially valuable profession, learning to recognize and identify mines (not eliminate them). A military professional also delivered essential mine safety information, critical for women with gardens or summer homes in the Kharkiv region.
Canva + Cybersecurity – Twenty-five participants (including three men) strengthened their competitiveness in the labor market by learning design skills and digital security essentials, from using AI tools in Canva to protecting online accounts and recognizing scams.
In total, the grant directly supported 56 individuals (53 women and 3 men). Participants left with practical skills, new knowledge, and renewed confidence to pursue financial independence.
The impact was deeply personal, as shared in participant testimonials:
Anna, an IDP from Kharkiv oblast: “This project was a real discovery for me! I was especially impressed by the Deminer master class. I had never heard of this profession before. The project is extremely important for our community—it helps newcomers adapt and feel confident.”
Tetyana, displaced from Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region: “The friendly atmosphere, new knowledge, and incredible trainers helped me feel more confident in the labor market. Thank you for your dedication!”
Beyond individual transformation, the project expanded ASSA’s services, visibility, and relationships with local businesses and authorities. It also supported small businesses during wartime, contributing to local economic growth.
Looking ahead, ASSA has established a Women’s Hub in Kharkiv to serve as a space for learning, healing, and connection. Plans include career, legal, and psychological counseling, in-house training courses, and mini-accelerators to teach women social entrepreneurship. ASSA is also building a database of local employers and job seekers to strengthen pathways to employment.
Amid conflict and uncertainty, the women of Kharkiv are not only surviving, they are learning, building, and reclaiming their futures. With continued support, ASSA is committed to helping them thrive, one skill at a time.
