After graduating from school, Karina Tiupa chose to become an electrician and enrolled at Kryvyi Rih Vocational Mining and Metallurgical Lyceum. At the time, she did not yet know where this choice would take her. After graduating, Karina works in her chosen profession at one of Kryvyi Rih’s largest industrial enterprises.

Emma Zakharevych, a 17-year-old high school student from Kryvyi Rih, and her team have secured $5,000 from the UActive program to help their peers take their first steps in the job market. Their initiative equips young people with practical tools to build resumes, communicate with employers, and successfully land their first jobs despite a lack of experience.

Quality vocational education is about much more than modern classrooms or state-of-the-art equipment. It is about giving people the opportunity to acquire in-demand skills, find meaningful employment, and take the next step in their professional journey.

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. That is why one of the key priorities of the KRYTSIA: Support for the Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project is expanding access to quality education for children with special educational needs.

A network of child-friendly spaces called 'VSE.SVIT' is actively operating in the Kryvyi Rih district, where over a thousand children and their parents have already received comprehensive psychosocial support. Thanks to this initiative, families are overcoming the effects of war-related stress, while children are finding a safe environment to recover and thrive.

Thanks to persistence, exports, and grant support, the company has not only stayed afloat but continues to grow, opening up new opportunities for development.