Driving Innovation and Resilience in Ukraine: Our 2024 Impact Reflexion

As 2024 comes to an end, we reflect on a year of growth, resilience, and transformation. At the Platform for Social Change, we have worked alongside communities across Ukraine to turn challenges into opportunities. Social entrepreneurship empowers individuals and organizations to rebuild, innovate, and create lasting solutions for a stronger future.

This year reaffirmed our belief that local innovation can spark global impact. By focusing on Ukraine’s small and rural communities, we have laid the groundwork for sustainable growth, economic recovery, and social change.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be the hub for social entrepreneurship development in Ukraine’s small and rural communities. By empowering individuals to transform ideas into impactful enterprises, we aim to drive economic growth and social change while building a foundation for global impact.

What did we focus on in 2024?

Nurturing Social Enterprises We supported social enterprises at every stage, offering education, mentorship, and financial tools to help transform socially beneficial ideas into sustainable businesses. This year, we helped over 100 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) develop sustainable business models and assisted 60 existing enterprises in scaling their operations to achieve financial stability. These efforts have directly contributed to job creation and stronger local economies.

Youth Empowerment We invested in youth leadership, empowering 260 young innovators to drive change in education, agriculture, and social inclusion. These projects addressed critical education, agriculture, and social inclusion issues, benefiting over 57,000 individuals nationwide. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, two-thirds of our youth program participants were women, and 16% were individuals with disabilities.?

Promoting Green Practices Recognizing the need for a greener future, we promoted sustainable practices among 40 social SMEs, helping them improve energy efficiency by 85%. These changes are vital for building a resilient and sustainable economy in regions heavily affected by the ongoing conflict. Our efforts also resulted in 20 new partnerships within the green social economy, fostering collaboration between social enterprises and environmentally conscious businesses.

Community Resilience To strengthen community resilience, we collaborated with territorial communities to develop two social economy strategies that integrate economic, social, and environmental priorities. These plans serve as blueprints for sustainable development, ensuring recovery efforts go beyond reconstruction to create thriving, self-sustaining communities. By addressing the specific needs of local populations, we are laying the groundwork for long-term resilience.

Collaboration and Innovation Finally, we prioritized collaboration and innovation, expanding our partnerships locally and globally to strengthen the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. By sharing knowledge and fostering new connections, we amplified the impact of our programs nationwide.

Highlights of 2024

This year, our efforts resulted in the following outcomes:

• Empowered 100+ Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to create and sustain impactful social enterprises.
• Supported 260 young innovators with initiatives that reached over 57,000 individuals.
• Facilitated 85% energy efficiency improvements among 40 social SMEs in conflict-affected regions.
• Created 120 sustainable jobs in small and rural communities.
• Trained 1,321 entrepreneurs through the Online Academy of Social Entrepreneurship.
• Conducted comprehensive research on the social entrepreneurship development in Khmelnytsky region covering 350 region stakeholders in the SE sector?
• Created 2 Comprehensive Social Economy Local Action Plans ensuring post-war resilience and economic sustainability.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we focus on 2025, our commitment to driving innovation and resilience in Ukraine grows stronger. Our mission remains clear: to create pathways for inclusive economic growth and empower underserved communities through education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices.

Key initiatives for the coming year include:

• Expanding Educational Programs: Equipping youth with the tools to launch and scale social enterprises, fostering a generation of changemakers.
• Tailored Community Programs: Introducing initiatives explicitly designed for rural areas, social SMEs, and service providers, ensuring no community is left behind in the journey toward economic self-sufficiency.
• Empowering Women, Youth, and IDPs: Supporting these groups with job and entrepreneurial opportunities in climate-resilient and green sectors.
• Post-Conflict Recovery: Enhancing livelihoods through social enterprises and innovative, community-driven solutions.

We aim to elevate Ukraine’s social entrepreneurship model onto the global stage by cultivating partnerships that attract investments, influence policies, and inspire solutions to shared global challenges. We can champion socio-economic empowerment and build a more inclusive, sustainable future.

Join Us in Shaping Ukraine’s Future

Collaboration at the Platform for Social Change is key to building a stronger, more resilient Ukraine. In 2024, we empowered social entrepreneurs, supported youth leadership, promoted green business practices, and worked alongside communities to drive recovery and sustainability. These achievements were possible with the trust and support of our partners.

As we look ahead to 2025, we invite you to join us in unlocking the potential of social entrepreneurship to create lasting impact. Together, we can drive innovation, expand opportunities, and build a brighter, sustainable future for Ukraine’s communities.