By Tanya Oleynikova | co-founder
For many young women in Ukraine, talent is not the problem. The challenge is access to mentors, practical knowledge, professional networks, and the confidence to believe that their ideas can become real. Thanks to your support, SheLeads 2.0 gave girls and young women aged 16–22 from across Ukraine—including small towns, villages, frontline communities, and displaced families—the opportunity to develop careers and projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
One of the participants, 18-year-old Aliona, joined the program with an early-stage idea but was unsure how to move forward. During the course, she learned how to define the problem her project solves, research the market, build a financial plan, and present her idea. By the end of the program, she had started developing her project’s social media presence and searching for accelerators and funding opportunities. “The course showed me that I do not need funding to take the first steps,” she shared. “The skills I need can be learned.”
Between January and June 2026, 365 young women applied to SheLeads 2.0, exceeding our target by 22%. A total of 228 participants began the online program, 118 received mentorship, and 90 completed all six learning modules. Participants developed 41 STEM startup pitch decks, and 20 finalists traveled to Kyiv for three days of training, company visits, networking, and final presentations. Eight participants received internships with partner organizations, while three young women received grants of UAH 60,000 each to develop projects in sustainable packaging, fitness technology, and renewable energy.
The impact went beyond new knowledge. Participants’ confidence increased from an average of 2.9 to 4.6 out of 5. All surveyed participants said the program positively influenced how they see their future, and 79% said they would not have started their project—or would have progressed much more slowly—without SheLeads. Your support helped young women see themselves not only as students, but as future engineers, founders, researchers, and leaders who can contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and technological future.
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