Fifteen defenders of Mariupol have begun studying under the "Live towards" program

Fifteen teams comprising defenders of Mariupol, their family members, and fellow soldiers have begun studying as part of a special season of the "Live towards"  educational and grant program. The program was initiated and is funded by FUIB, and is implemented in partnership with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, the "Heart of Azovstal" NGO, the "Redut Business" NGO, and KSE Graduate Business School.

The "Live towards" program helps veterans, military personnel, and their partners develop their own businesses—from formulating a business idea to launching or scaling an enterprise. Over the course of two months, participants will gain practical knowledge from KSE Graduate Business School instructors and receive mentorship and expert support from the NGO "Redut Business". Upon completion of the studying, finalists will be able to pitch their business plans and compete for a grant of 500,000 hryvnias from FUIB.

For several years, FUIB and KSE Graduate Business School have been reliable partners of "Heart of Azovstal" in supporting the defenders of Mariupol. That is why, this year, as part of the "Live towards" initiative, they decided to create a dedicated cohort for Mariupol’s defenders, their families, and their fellow soldiers. This program complements "Heart of Azovstal’s" comprehensive support ecosystem, which encompasses physical and psychological recovery, employment, support for veteran entrepreneurship, professional development, and opportunities for self-realization. For Rinat Akhmetov’s "Heart of Azovstal" project, this program marks the first step toward establishing a unique veteran business space in the future, modeled after the Dog Tag initiative in the USA.

"Finding a vocation that is also economically successful is a key part of the 'Heart of Azovstal' initiative’s broader mission to support the defenders of Mariupol. While some of our programs focus on physical and psychological recovery, this project helps veterans move toward financial independence. Running one’s own business is a form of rehabilitation through action—an opportunity to transition from a recipient of aid to a creator of change and new jobs. A veteran becomes an example for their fellow service members, motivating others to grow and build a successful life after their service" , - said Tetiana Maltseva, Director of the 'Heart of Azovstal' NGO.

"Together with our partners (FUIB, NGO 'Redut Business,' NGO 'Heart of Azovstal,' and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation), we have launched a special edition of the "Live towards" educational and grant program for the Defenders of Mariupol. Ahead of Defenders' Day, this serves as proof that we demonstrate our support through actions rather than words. The training will mark the first step toward starting a business: participants will test the viability of their business models, prepare business plans and budgets, and learn to pitch their ideas to a jury that will select the grant recipients" ,— Tetiana Izmailova, Academic Director of the "Live towards" program.

The "Live towards" educational and grant program was initiated and is being implemented with funding from FUIB, in partnership with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, the "Heart of Azovstal" NGO, the "Redut Business" NGO, and KSE Graduate Business School.