Ms. Nataliya Kachur comes from the city of Soledar in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nataliya and her family moved away from the frontlines and to the central region of Cherkasy. It was not easy for Nataliya’s family to suddenly uproot their lives and settle in a completely new place far from their social network and previous jobs. Having 20 years of experience in teaching art, Nataliya decided to begin offering online drawing lessons, leveraging her love for art to earn a living in an unfamiliar area.
In 2023, Nataliya became aware of an opportunity to further develop her business and decided to apply for the Estonian Refugee Council’s Empowering Women programme. This programme, supported by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, aims to help conflict-affected Ukrainian women develop sustainable livelihood skills through a thorough and competitive application, training, and mentorship process. Nataliya completed intensive business training and developed her business plan in close coordination with mentors and ERC staff. Nataliya’s passion and drive quickly made her one of the most successful participants of the program. Through a competitive assessment process, she was selected to receive an asset-based grant equal to 36,000 hryvnias (roughly 900 USD) to support the development of her new business, as well as receiving six months of access to a professional mentor. Thus, Nataliya’s "Kachur" online school of arts was born.
"I am 100% satisfied with the program. While before I had doubts about opening my own business, the mentor gave me a push for further development," the entrepreneur explains.
According to Ms. Nataliya, art is not just a lesson but rather offers an exciting journey into the world of creativity through her classes. Among her students are many Ukrainian children who were now forced to move abroad due to the conflict. "Drawing becomes not only a way of self-expression but also an additional tool for overcoming stress and increasing self-esteem, a kind of art therapy. One of my students living in Poland not only draws during classes, but also recites verses, sings, and dances during classes," shares Nataliya Kachur. These courses also provide a connection to home for many students, where the ability to learn in their mother tongue is a welcome treat for students adjusting to life abroad.
For now, the online art school is not Nataliya’s main source of income, however, she observes an increasing demand as word of her art courses spreads. Nataliya hopes that soon she will be able to focus full-time on expanding and running her own business.
The Empowering Women Programme is implemented as part of the Ukrainian Response Consortium, led by Acted, and funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).
