As part of the project with HIAS Ukraine, retraining courses are ongoing in four regions of Ukraine.

During this festive Christmas and New Year season, we would like to share another success story that brings joy to our team. This is the story of a student from our retraining courses, which we organized this time with the support of HIAS Ukraine.

Roksolana had dreamed of becoming a hairdresser for a long time. And when you truly desire something, everything seems to align to make it happen. That’s how she came across a Facebook post from «Voice of Romni» i about a new enrollment for retraining courses.

“My mom said to me, ‘Why don’t you apply? You’ve always wanted to study.’ So, I submitted my application,” she shared.

Two weeks later, Roksolana received a message confirming that she had been accepted to the program. Now, she is honing her skills in the art of hairdressing. Her family is her greatest support—her parents, brother, and even neighbors are happy to be her first clients.

“Right now, we’re learning how to dye hair. Before this, we practiced men’s haircuts, then short women’s styles like cascades and bobs. Now we’re moving on to coloring. The first person I cut was my dad, and then my brother trusted me with his hair too. Now even the neighbors come for haircuts. My mom’s brothers come to get their hair cut as well—they trust me. That means a lot. And my mom supports me. She really likes that I’m learning,” Roksolana shared.

Roksolana’s new dream is even more ambitious. After completing our courses, she plans to work in a salon and eventually open her own studio. This is a story about the courage to pursue one’s dreams and the support of loved ones along the way. Thanks to our courses, Roksolana is not just learning a new profession—she is building her future.

As part of this project, 28 inspired and determined Roma women are participating in retraining courses across four regions of Ukraine.

  • In Zaporizhzhia, 8 women are mastering skills in manicure and hairdressing, office management, and computer literacy.
  • In Kryvyi Rih, 7 participants chose to train as manicure specialists, while in Kharkiv, 7 women are focusing on either manicure skills or makeup artistry.
  • In Uzhhorod, 6 women are learning to become barbers, universal hairdressers, and makeup artists.

The courses are held in small groups to ensure that each participant receives maximum attention and the necessary knowledge. Thanks to the opportunity to leave their children in Voice of Romni’s child-friendly spaces, the women can fully focus on their training in a comfortable environment.

@voice.of.romni 📣 У 4 регіонах України «Голос Ромні» проводить курси перекваліфікації. Їх проходять 28 натхненних і цілеспрямованих ромок. ✔️ У Запорізькій області ми відібрали 8 жінок, які опановують манікюрну і перукарську майстерності, діловодство в системі управління та комп’ютерну грамотність. ✔️ У Дніпропетровській області семеро учасниць обрали професію майстринь манікюру. ✔️ На Харківщині курси проходять теж семеро жінок: одні обрали манікюрну майстерність, інші — візаж. ✔️ На Закарпатті шестеро жінок навчаються на барберок, перукарок-універсалок та візажисток. 🔄 Заняття тривають у невеликих групах, аби кожна учасниця отримала максимум уваги та необхідних знань. Завдяки можливості залишати дітей у дитячих просторах «Голосу Ромні» 🧸жінки можуть максимально зосередитися на навчанні у комфортних умовах. 🔻 Курси перекваліфікації та підвищення кваліфікації для ромських жінок були підтримані @HIAS Ukraine в межах партнерства з Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Інформація, що представлена у матеріалі, не завжди відображає погляди HIAS та JFNA. #ГолосРомні #курсиманікюру #курсиперукарів #курсиперекваліфікації #курсивізажу #компютернаграмотність #діловодство #курсибарберів ♬ Believe It Now – Paul Gordon

The retraining and upskilling courses for Roma women were supported by HIAS Ukraine as part of a partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). The information presented in this material does not necessarily reflect the views of HIAS or JFNA.