The story of two sisters: entrepreneurship school helps women build businesses in Ukraine

“Since 2011, we had been helping our mother run the family lingerie business in our hometown of Yakymivka, Zaporizhzhia region. By 2018, we had already registered our own sole proprietorship and opened a second store. But with the full-scale war breaking out on February 24, 2022, our family had to leave home. That was also when our beloved business came to an end,” shared Liliya Onyshchenko and Yuliya Mykhailova.

Liliya and Yuliya, sisters and internally displaced persons (IDPs), had built a family business producing and selling lingerie. However, when the war began, they fled abroad, leaving behind the business they had nurtured for 20 years.

Entrepreneurship started in the family

Liliya and Yuliya recently completed Mondo’s entrepreneurship program in the Zhytomyr region, which helps internally displaced people successfully cope. Today, there are 3.66 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine who have had to restart their lives because of the war. An estimated 3.5 to 5 million jobs have also been lost due to the war.

“In a state of confusion, we left for Ireland. After spending two years in an unfamiliar environment, I realized that enough was enough—I had to return to Ukraine and start a new business because that’s what I love and what I’m experienced in,” Liliya recalled.

“Upon returning home, I faced a new reality: a different city, constant air raid alerts, changes in legislation, inflation, shifting interests among female consumers, and even a new generation that had grown up over three years of war. I felt trapped again. Where do I start? Is it even worth it? Over time, my expertise seemed to have lost its value,” Yuliya admitted.

But the world is not without kind people! A friend told the sisters about an entrepreneurship program she had successfully completed and was already thriving in. The five-month entrepreneurship program is now being held for the fourth time. Each session involves 40 internally displaced persons, 80% of whom are women. Mondo supports the program thanks to donations.

“For us, this was the opportunity we couldn’t afford to miss! Joining the program was the best decision we made in 2024,” Yuliya and Liliya said enthusiastically.

Inspiring opportunity

After successfully passing the selection process, the sisters eagerly attended every training module, diligently completing all the assignments given by the trainers. Their eyes shone with determination, and their passion for returning to their beloved work was undeniable.

“Being surrounded by like-minded people, learning from successful industry experts, and gaining valuable practical knowledge made me realize that I am not alone in my ambitions. Mistakes are normal—they are part of the journey to success. Enough waiting, it’s time to act!” Liliya shared.

“At the start of the new year, we actively began searching for the perfect location for our future store, and we finally found exactly what we needed. Now, we already have a well-developed business plan that took shape in our minds step by step after each powerful module,” Yuliya and Liliya shared.

Today, the sisters are taking the next steps to bring their dream to life—their own lingerie boutique!

“We are deeply grateful to the School for Entrepreneurs for the motivation, knowledge, support, and encouragement to take action. Your work is incredibly important in today’s reality—you are the support system for small and vulnerable entrepreneurs like us!” Yuliya and Liliya emphasized.