Rediscovering herself: Yana’s journey from Nikopol to a new beginning through education
Yana Vodyanchuk is a hairdresser from Nikopol who, like thousands of Ukrainians, lost her livelihood due to the war. After multiple relocations and the loss of her primary income, she found herself in a state of uncertainty. But giving up wasn’t an option. “It was tough, especially after moving. But sitting still and doing nothing isn’t for me,” says Yana.
When she was offered free vocational training in her new community, she saw it as a lifeline. She quickly mastered new haircutting techniques, found inspiration in her instructor, and started to regain confidence. Today, Yana is not just working — she is growing, helping others, and standing firmly on her own two feet.
The educational program that helped Yana was made possible by the NGO Responsible Citizens, which for over a year and a half has been implementing short but practical training courses across communities in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions — giving displaced people a fresh start and a new professional path.
📍 Dnipropetrovsk region, Nikopol
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