Training and Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs in Preschool Education (Ukraine)

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026

The Training and Grant Program is supporting women in Ukraine who want to start or expand businesses in preschool education and childcare. The program combines professional business training, online mentoring and expert consultations with the opportunity to compete for grants of up to $16,000. The initiative aims to help women develop sustainable preschool and childcare businesses while encouraging cooperation between private service providers, local communities, local governments and municipal institutions.

About the Training and Grant Program

The program is designed for women who want to establish or expand preschool education and childcare services in selected regions of Ukraine. Rather than providing financial support alone, the initiative combines training and business development assistance to help participants prepare viable preschool business models.

The program focuses on:

- Preschool education and childcare businesses. - Business development and expansion. - Financial planning. - Operational management. - Community engagement. - Cooperation between private providers and local communities. - Partnerships with local governments and municipal institutions. - Sustainable models for delivering preschool services. Participants will receive guidance to help transform their preschool or childcare idea into a practical and competitive business plan. Grant Funding Available Selected participants will have the opportunity to compete for grants of up to: $16,000 The grant competition follows the training and mentoring components of the program. Participants will first develop and refine their business plans through training, online mentoring and expert consultations before entering the competitive selection process. Who Can Apply? The program is open to women residing in or planning to operate in the following regions of Ukraine: - Dnipropetrovsk. - Zaporizhzhia. - Mykolaiv. - Odesa. - Sumy. - Kharkiv. - Chernihiv. Applicants may participate even if they do not currently operate a business. The key requirement is that applicants demonstrate motivation and have a concrete plan to start or expand a preschool or childcare initiative. Priority Applicant Groups The program places particular emphasis on women who may face additional barriers to entrepreneurship or access to childcare services.

Priority may be given to:

- Veterans. - Wives of military personnel. - Internally displaced women. - Women living in rural areas. - Mothers of children with special educational needs or disabilities. - Women already working in the preschool sector. - Women aspiring to enter the preschool education and childcare sector. This approach is intended to support both entrepreneurship and the development of accessible childcare services within local communities. Existing Businesses Are Not Required Applicants do not need to have an existing business. The program is also suitable for women who are preparing to launch their first preschool or childcare business.

However, applicants should demonstrate:

- Strong motivation. - A clear business concept. - A concrete plan to establish or expand a preschool. - Interest in developing sustainable childcare services. - Willingness to participate in the training and mentoring process. Women who already operate in the preschool sector can also use the program to develop or expand their existing activities. Five-Day In-Person Training Selected participants will take part in a five-day in-person training programme. The training is designed to provide practical knowledge needed to establish and manage a preschool or childcare business.

Key training areas include:

- Business model development. - Financial planning. - Operational management. - Community engagement. - Business plan preparation. The training gives participants an opportunity to strengthen their business concepts before moving to the next stage of the program. Business Model Development Participants will learn how to develop a sustainable business model for preschool education and childcare services.

This includes thinking about:

- The services the preschool will provide. - The community need being addressed. - How the service will operate. - Potential cooperation with local institutions. - Long-term sustainability. - The relationship between private providers and local communities. A clear business model can help applicants demonstrate that their proposed preschool can respond to local needs while remaining financially and operationally sustainable. Financial Planning Financial planning is another important part of the training. Participants will develop an understanding of how to plan the financial side of their preschool or childcare initiative and incorporate financial considerations into their business plans. Applicants should be prepared to explain how their proposed business will be structured and how grant support could contribute to launching or expanding the initiative. Operational Management The training also covers operational management. This is important because running a preschool involves more than developing an educational concept. Applicants need to consider how their proposed service will function in practice and how day-to-day activities will be managed. Community Engagement and Partnerships The program places particular emphasis on cooperation between private preschool and childcare providers and local communities.

Participants are encouraged to consider partnerships involving

- Local governments. - Municipal institutions. - Community organizations. - Private service providers. - Local stakeholders. Such cooperation can help create sustainable models for preschool and childcare service delivery. Online Mentoring and Expert Consultations The support does not end after the five-day in-person training.

Participants will continue receiving

- Online mentoring. - Expert consultations. - Guidance on refining business plans. This follow-up support is designed to help participants s