RFAs: School of Social Entrepreneurship Program (Ukraine)

Deadline: 20-Sep-2026

The School of Social Entrepreneurship provides free business training, mentorship, and grant funding of up to €12,500 to eligible veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their families in the Mykolaiv and Vinnytsia regions. The programme supports participants who want to establish social enterprises that create positive social or community impact. The three-month programme combines online learning, practical workshops, group activities, mentoring, and business-plan development. Participants who successfully develop and pitch their business plans can receive grant funding to launch their social enterprise, along with continued support during implementation.

About the School of Social Entrepreneurship

The School of Social Entrepreneurship is a collaborative initiative led by the Ukrainian Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Educational support is provided by the International Institute of Management (MIM-Kyiv). The programme focuses on helping veterans and their families develop entrepreneurial skills and create businesses that contribute to their local communities. It is also designed to support the reintegration of veterans and their families in Ukraine by providing practical business education, mentorship, and financial assistance. Why the Programme Matters Veterans and their families may face significant challenges when transitioning to civilian life. Entrepreneurship can provide an opportunity to develop sustainable livelihoods while addressing local social or community needs. The programme combines three important forms of support: - Business education - Expert mentorship - Grant funding This integrated approach allows participants to develop a business concept, create a practical implementation plan, and potentially secure funding to launch their social enterprise. Who Is Eligible? Eligibility is specifically focused on veterans and families connected to the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Mykolaiv and Vinnytsia regions.

Eligible participants include:

- Veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU). - Family members of eligible veterans. - Parents of veterans or relevant servicemen. - Spouses of veterans or relevant servicemen. - Children of veterans or relevant servicemen. - Family members of missing servicemen. - Family members of captured servicemen. Applicants must be from the Mykolaiv or Vinnytsia regions and must be committed to creating a business with a social or community effect. What Is a Social Enterprise? A social enterprise is a business that combines commercial activity with a clear social or community purpose. Under this programme, applicants should develop business ideas that do more than generate income. Their proposed enterprise should also provide a positive benefit to the local community. Potential community benefits could involve: - Creating employment opportunities - Addressing local social needs - Providing useful community services - Supporting vulnerable groups - Improving local economic opportunities - Developing solutions to community challenges Applicants should clearly demonstrate the intended social or community impact of their business idea. How Much Grant Funding Is Available? Successful participants can receive grant funding of up to: €12,500 The grant is intended to support the launch of social business projects that benefit the local community. The programme is fully funded by donors, and participation in the School of Social Entrepreneurship is free of charge. What Does the Programme Provide?

Participants receive comprehensive support throughout the programme

Key components include:

- Free business education - Online lectures - Practical workshops - Group work - Expert mentorship - Business-plan preparation - Final business-plan pitching - Grant funding opportunities - Post-grant implementation support The combination of training and financial assistance is designed to help participants move from an initial business idea toward practical implementation. How Long Is the Programme? The School of Social Entrepreneurship runs for three months. During this period, participants take part in educational and practical activities designed to strengthen their entrepreneurial and social-business skills. The programme includes both learning and application, allowing participants to develop their business concepts while receiving guidance from experienced experts. What Will Participants Learn? The training covers the core areas needed to establish and manage a social enterprise.

Topics include:

- Entrepreneurship fundamentals - Social business modelling - Financial planning - Marketing strategy - Risk management - Social leadership - Business planning - Project implementation

Participants apply these concepts while developing their own business plans

Business Plan Development and Pitching An important component of the programme is the preparation of a final business plan. Participants develop their proposed social enterprise and present their plans through a final pitching process.

The business plan should demonstrate:

- The business concept - The social or community problem being addressed - The proposed solution - The target beneficiaries or customers - The business model - Financial planning - Marketing approach - Potential risks - Expected social impact - Implementation strategy A well-developed business plan can help demonstrate that the proposed enterprise is realistic and capable of creating meaningful community benefits. Mentorship and Expert Support

Participants receive mentorship from experienced experts during the programme

Mentoring provides an opportunity to receive practical guidance while developing the business concept and preparing the final business plan. Support does not necessarily end when grant funding is awarded. Participants also receive ongoing support after the grant is awarded to help with the successful implementation of their social enterprise