A new beginning after loss: the story of Olena Khodusova

Olena Khodusova’s family had invested nearly all their savings into their apartment in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, and its renovation. However, she was confident that over time she and her husband would be able to restore their financial stability, as they had a successful business. Yet, due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the family lost everything — both their home and the business they had built over the years.

At first, Olena, together with her husband, child, and relatives, moved to a small village in the Kremenchuk district of Poltava region. After recovering from what they had been through, the family began searching for new opportunities. Initially, Olena and her husband provided tree and plant care services, and later they revived their business in a new location. 

To bring this idea to life, Olena Khodusova took part in the project NIZHNA (Unbreakable Initiative of Women — Persistent and Active), implemented by the NGO “Light of Hope” with technical support from UN Women Ukraine and funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF).

To learn how grant support helped them restore and grow their business in a new location, watch the video. 

This video was produced by the NGO “Light of Hope” with technical support from UN Women Ukraine and funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed and content included do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.