Oksana is one of those people who constantly seek ways to achieve their goals. As a mother of two, she wanted to find a job with a flexible schedule that would allow her to stay close to her family.

“I can’t work for someone else—only for myself, by appointment, because I have no one to leave my children with,” she explains.

Thanks to the retraining courses provided by Voice of Romni, Oksana completed a manicure training program and attended additional classes in Ukrainian language and leadership. This became a true turning point in her life:

“They gave me a real, amazing opportunity to learn because I had neither the money nor the time for it. This helps women because they can find themselves. The moral support is incredible! It’s great when someone else is thinking about you, making it possible for you to do what you love at a set time — and earn money.”

Now, Oksana is planning to create her own workspace and inspire others to pursue their passions. We are proud to have helped her take this important step toward fulfilling her dreams. Additionally, Oksana and her children attended our summer camp in the Carpathians for vulnerable groups. Her story is a powerful example of why it is essential to provide Roma women from frontline regions with opportunities to recover, believe in themselves, and continue on their path of growth and self-realization, despite the challenges of war.

The retraining and upskilling courses 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.