On 25 August, Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Superhumans Center.

The purpose of the Memorandum is to create conditions for supporting entrepreneurship in Ukraine through a grant programme for starting or developing a business for combatants, people with war-related disabilities and their families. The document provides for the dissemination of information on opportunities for veterans at the centre for rehabilitation and prosthetics, Superhumans Center, and on joint events, including those aimed at sharing experiences.

“I would like to thank the Superhumans Center for fulfilling its important mission to help soldiers recover and return to civilian life. We are all grateful to our defenders for the choice they made and for leading us to victory. In return, we should repay our heroes with new opportunities to fulfil their dreams, start businesses and study. Our job is to make sure that when a veteran leaves a rehabilitation centre, hospital or clinic, he or she not only has a prosthetic limb, but the ability and desire to use it. We want them to have a job they want to go to, a business they want to develop, a home they want to return to after a hard day’s work,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

To enable veterans to start or expand their businesses, they can participate in the Government’s Vlasna Sprava grant programme, run by the Ministry of Economy, and receive between UAH 250,000 and UAH 1 million in funding. An important condition is the creation of new jobs. In addition, financial support of up to UAH 3 million can be obtained through competitive programmes of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

In total, more than 400 veteran businesses and veteran NGOs have already received financial support and grants totalling UAH 100 million through various government programmes.

In addition, there are training programmes offered by partners where anyone can get advice or learn how to apply for a grant, write a business plan or use funds effectively. There is also the opportunity to learn a new trade or upgrade skills at 11 vocational training centres run by the State Employment Service, or to receive vouchers for training – from IT to agriculture.

Veterans and their families can apply for a grant through the Diia portal.