Planting New Futures in Kharkiv, Ukraine

In the heart of a war-torn city, women are rediscovering their strength, one tool, one plant, one skill at a time.

With the help of our Giving Joy micro grant, the Kharkiv-based NGO Association of Community Initiatives Support (ASSA) recently launched a hands-on job training initiative for women, including internally displaced persons (IDPs). Their first workshop? Landscape design, a growing, well-paid field that’s often considered off-limits to women.

Seventeen women, including five displaced by the war, took part in a two-part master class. The first session covered landscape basics at ASSA’s Women’s Hub; the second brought participants to an active worksite, where they learned to use professional tools and saw firsthand what the job entails. For many, it was their first step toward a new career and a renewed sense of possibility.

The impact goes far beyond one workshop. The grant allowed ASSA to expand its programming, strengthen local partnerships, and plan future trainings in fields like humanitarian demining and IT, helping women access safe, sustainable livelihoods in a changing world.

In a time of great uncertainty, ASSA is proving that with the right support, women can not only rebuild, but thrive.

Your donations made this possible. With every grant, we’re not just funding projects—we’re fueling transformation. More women are gaining skills, growing businesses, and lifting others along the way.

Donate today and be part of the next success story!