Sometimes a new career path begins not with a grand dream, but with the need to find a foothold when one’s familiar life suddenly changes.
When the full-scale invasion began, Iryna, from Lozova, lost her job. Along with her job, her plans for the future changed too, and she had to rebuild her usual rhythm of life from scratch. It was then that Iryna took up manicures – initially as a way to earn some extra income.
At that point, she hadn’t yet thought of manicures as a profession in which she could develop, grow and build her own future. But gradually, her perspective on this line of work began to change.
Taking part in the “Dream. Create. Achieve.” project gave Iryna the chance to take a fresh look at herself, her skills and her prospects.
The project provided a space for gaining new knowledge, working towards her goals and having an honest conversation with herself about what she really wanted. It was here that Iryna began to see her work as much more than just a way of earning a living. Manicures gradually became an opportunity for professional development, self-fulfilment and further growth.
“I was able to see in the manicure business not only a source of income, but also opportunities for professional development, self-fulfilment and growth.”
Along with this new perspective came confidence in her own abilities. Iryna began to set herself bolder goals, work on developing her skills and plan her next steps.
She realised something important: simply wanting something isn’t enough to make a dream come true. You need a clear vision, a willingness to take action and faith in your own abilities.
“The project inspired me to dream more boldly and not be afraid to set myself ambitious goals. It helped me understand myself better, cast aside my doubts and focus on what really matters.”
Today, Iryna has a well-defined plan for her professional development. She continues to hone her skills, grow in her field and move confidently towards goals that, until recently, might have seemed out of reach.
“‘Dream. Realise. Achieve’ became for me not just a project, but an important step towards change that helped turn insecurity into motivation, and a dream into a real plan of action.”
Iryna’s story is about how a temporary decision can gradually turn into a genuine career path. It’s about the opportunity to see new possibilities in one’s own skills, to believe in one’s abilities and to start planning for the future with greater confidence.
And it’s also about the power of support, knowledge and an environment where you can pause, understand yourself better, recognise your own potential and take the next step.
The “Dream. Realise. Achieve.” project is being implemented by Convictus Ukraine in partnership with and with the support of Norwegian People’s Aid Ukraine. Its aim is to strengthen the economic capacity of women in communities and help them find new opportunities for professional development.