Career training, financial literacy, lectures on socially important topics, and a community of people who share values and lived experiences

The Beloved project is a space where the families of service members and veterans can receive career support — from discovering their professional path and completing training to updating their CVs and preparing for interviews. And throughout this journey, they’re part of a community of people who truly understand them.

During its first year, the team focused on designing programs that would open up new opportunities for each participant. From language classes and training courses to creative workshops and large community gatherings — the year was full of meaningful events and powerful stories.

Today, our growing community includes partners, spouses, and family members of soldiers, as well as veterans and those currently undergoing recovery.
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At Beloved, our mission is to share knowledge and support the career growth of veterans, service members, and their loved ones. Just as important, we’re building a community where it feels safe and comfortable to learn and gain new skills — surrounded by people who understand and share similar values and experiences.
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Support in Numbers

In 2024, the Beloved NGO delivered results that speak for themselves:

• 1,950 applications to join our programs
• 584 events — from language courses and lectures to creative workshops and sports sessions
• 653 participants received direct support

Our team organized 308 events in Kyiv and 276 in Lviv.

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Key Milestones from Our First Year:

• January — Project launch in Kyiv
• February — Language courses and a two-month Communications course begin
• April — Health & wellness track opens (sports activities)
• June — Website launch and new community hub in Lviv
• July — Start of open lectures on socially relevant issues
• August — Pre-medical aid training sessions begin
• September — Grant-funded courses at Bazilik and the first long-term course in Lviv
• November — New professional track: sewing
• December — Launch of a new children’s program and a major event for families from Lviv region communities

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New Careers with Beloved

One of our team’s main focuses during the first year was launching career-switching courses — short programs that allow participants to gain a new profession in just 2–3 months. We emphasized communication-based skills, and here’s a look at the trainings we offered:

• Communications Course — a two-month program with a final project, curated by Maryna Baturynets, communications expert and head of BAZILIK School of Communication in Kyiv.
  
  
• PR Basics Intensive — a series of lectures and hands-on sessions led by a PR specialist and founder of Eter Agency.
  
  
• Copywriting Fundamentals — a two-month course curated by Stasia Padalka, copywriter, co-founder of the copywriting hub Kopirska, and author of Waiting for a Copywriter.
  
  
• Basics of Communications — a two-month course in Lviv with lectures and practical sessions from communication professionals representing Lviv Media Forum, UAnimals, Ukraїner, !Fest, Babylon’13, and others.

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In the second half of the year, the team launched a new educational track — sewing:

• Knitwear Sewing Course — the first groups in Lviv and Kyiv completed a two-month course where participants learned to sew T-shirts, jogger pants, and sweatshirts. Though it’s a beginner-level course, it equips participants with the skills to make clothes for their families or even start a small business.
  
  
• Bedding Sewing Course — a two-month program focused on making all types of bed linen. Participants learned how to draft patterns, choose the right types of seams, and select suitable fastenings. By the end, they were able to create custom-size bedding sets.
  
  
• Basic Sewing Course — launched in Kyiv, this four-month course is designed to teach participants to independently sew wardrobe essentials like classic trousers, a shirt, a classic skirt, and a blazer.

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Additional Skills for Career Growth

The Beloved project team aims to not only teach new professions for financial stability but also to help participants understand the basics of financial well-being and develop the tools they need to grow in their careers.

• English Courses: Over the year, we launched and completed courses for 8 groups, ranging from A0 to B2, in Kyiv and Lviv. In partnership with GREEN FOREST, we trained over 80 students.
  
  
• Grant Writing Courses and Lectures: Grant writing specialists taught soldiers and their families how to find grant providers, prepare documents correctly, and apply for funding to support their businesses. In Kyiv and Lviv, soldiers’ families joined us to receive practical guidance on how to secure funding for their ventures.
  
  
• Financial Literacy Lectures and Training: We organized a series of financial literacy lectures and games in Kyiv and Lviv for soldiers and their families. They learned how to create personal and family budgets, assess their financial situation, and understand the difference between assets and liabilities. The sessions also included advice on building an emergency fund and making initial investments.

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Socially Important Events for All Those Who Care

Alongside courses, training programs, and workshops for soldiers and their families, we believe it’s equally important to organize educational events for everyone who cares. These events unite people around shared values and help those who don’t have soldiers among their loved ones to understand the experiences of others and stay connected. Over the year, we hosted the following open lectures:

• Lecture: The Culture of Honoring Fallen Soldiers: We discussed the topic with journalist and Ukrainian culture researcher Darka Hirna. We reflected on the culture of honoring Cossacks, highlighted current issues in memorialization, and released a joint lecture recap with Bazilik Media. Read the lecture recap here.

• Inspiration meeting with war photojournalist Yulia Kochetova: “Pain makes your heart bigger. You can feel both joy and terrifying things more deeply. My heart is growing — and as long as it does, I’ll keep going. If I ever stop feeling, that’s when I’ll know it’s time to stop, because without empathy, there’s no point. Journalism is about trying to feel as closely as possible, to empathize, to share experience, to be near. You can’t truly be close to someone if you don’t empathize,” shared Yulia Kochetova. Read the meeting summary here.
  

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• Pre-medical aid and tactical medicine: Every month, we hold pre-medical aid courses in Kyiv and Lviv with certified trainers. Here, participants learn to stop bleeding, apply tourniquets, hemostatic and pressure bandages, perform CPR, assemble an IFAK, manage and restore breathing, and how to handle airway obstruction and perform the Heimlich maneuver.
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• Meeting with the team of the Maksym “Dali” Kryvtsov Foundation: We discussed how Maksym Kryvtsov’s friends and family decided to establish a foundation, the legal matters they addressed, and how the foundation team preserves Maksym’s memory. This includes launching a landing page, organizing public events, working with social media, influencers, and the media, promoting a collection of poems and quotes, and launching merchandise.

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Creativity as a Resource for the Soul. Exploring Ukrainian Culture

Over the year, we held more than ten creative workshops. They weren’t just about unwinding or getting to know each other better — they became a space where we could dive into Ukrainian traditions and keep them alive. Together, we explored the legacy of cultural figures from the past century and found inspiration in what they left behind.

• Vybiika block printing, vytynanka paper cut art, necklaces made with Kosiv ceramics, working with clay, and creating pysanky. The artists who have studied and preserved these traditions now share with our community the secrets of their craft, shed light on the symbols of Ukrainian culture, and reveal the deeper meaning behind their handmade creations.
  
  
• Book club. Throughout the year, the community in Lviv has been reading books by contemporary Ukrainian authors. Together with The Old Lion Publishing House, we dove into stories by Eugenia Kuznetsova and Andrii Hudyma.
  
  
• Lectures on Ukrainian composers. Musicologist, cultural manager, and author of the poetry collection Viscous and Ripe, as well as a passionate ambassador of classical music, Olia Lozynska curated a special selection of works by renowned Ukrainian composers for our community. She shared stories about their creative journeys and organized an evening of classical music for the community in Lviv.

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Caring for Health

Physical and mental well-being remained the focus of the NGO’s work.

Fitness classes

• 100+ sessions of stretching, Pilates, and yoga. Participants in Kyiv and Lviv joined the workouts to maintain their physical health and support emotional balance.

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