Categories of news

UWG Success Story: From a Dream to a Personal Business. Aliona Tsegelniuk, Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Region

Photo: participant’s archive / Ukrainian Women’s Guard

Aliona Tsegelniuk from the town of Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region had always dreamed of starting her own business in her hometown. However, like many other women living in frontline regions, she faced self-doubt, a lack of knowledge, and the fear of taking the first step.

Participants of the Ukrainian Women’s Guard training under the project “Empowered Woman — the Support of Ukraine,” supported by UN Women and WPHF.

In February 2025, Aliona joined a training program within the framework of the project “Empowered Woman — the Support of Ukraine”, implemented by the NGO Ukrainian Women’s Guard with the support of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and UN Women in Ukraine. This course became a true turning point in her life.

“During the training, I realized for the first time that starting my own business was not just a dream, but a real plan. I learned how to create a business plan, calculate financial costs, and see the bigger picture,” shares Aliona.

After completing the program, she applied for a grant under the state program “YeRobota.” Her first attempt was almost successful — she scored 122 out of 130 points, but it wasn’t enough to win. Instead of giving up, Aliona turned to the project’s mentors and experts for guidance, carefully analyzed her mistakes, and improved her business plan.

This time, perseverance paid off: in June 2025, Aliona received a microgrant of 500,000 UAH from the State Employment Service to open her own business — a small plant for purification and bottling of drinking water in Bohodukhiv.

She gave her business a meaningful name — “Tse Voda” (“It’s Water”) — because, as she says, “Water is life, purity, and forward movement. That’s exactly how I feel my journey.”

Her brand became not just about water, but about renewal — the belief that even in times of hardship, one can find inner strength, cleanse a dream of doubt, and set it in motion again, just as water brings life to the earth.

On June 2, Aliona’s business officially began operations. Today, she already has one employee — a sales assistant, and her next goal is to launch a water delivery service and hire a driver-logistics specialist.

“I am immensely grateful to the project team for their support. Thanks to this training, I not only gained knowledge but also confidence in myself. Recently, I completed an advanced course for existing entrepreneurs and received a certificate with distinction. For me, this is a new level and proof that I can achieve even more,” says Aliona.

Aliona Tsegelniuk’s story is a powerful example of a woman’s transformation — someone who overcame doubt, applied her new knowledge, and created jobs in her community. Her success embodies the core mission of the project: to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, contributing to peace, resilience, and recovery in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Women’s Guard

SUPPORT US

Donate to Ukrainian Women’s Guard PayPal mail: [email protected]

DONATE ⇒https://www.uavarta.org/donat/

Subscribe to our channels and pages:

https://www.facebook.com/UkrZhinochaVarta
https://t.me/UWguardNewsEN
https://t.me/zhinkavarta
https://t.me/uaguard
https://instagram.com/ukrainianwomens_guard