War, evacuation, the search for new homes – this is how the stories begin for millions of Ukrainians forced to seek safer places for themselves and their families. We continue to share stories of our “Solar Start: an educational course for veterans and IDP” participants. The goal of the educational course is to provide veterans and internally displaced persons (IDPs) with relevant knowledge and skills in PV-plant design and installation.

The story of Natalia from the Kurakhove City, Donetsk Region, is an example of resilience, a willingness to explore new opportunities, and the ability to help others even when facing challenging circumstances.

“For me, the war began in 2014. On May 26, 2014, while I was at work, the battles for Donetsk Airport began. Then, in July 2014, at night, the city of Maryinka, located 13 km from Kurakhove, was shelled with multiple rocket launch systems. And from that day, the front line separated my hometown Donetsk (where my parents still live) from me.”

After three months in evacuation, Natalia and her family returned to the Kurakhove City, but all plans for a peaceful life were shattered by Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

“Two days before the start of the armed invasion, I felt the inevitability of changes in the country and my life. Sleep disappeared, anxious thoughts emerged. On the night of February 24, 2022, I couldn’t sleep and was in touch with my friends. We supported each other, trying to overcome the heavy emotional state.

On March 8, 2022, with minimal hand luggage containing essential items and documents, we left the Kurakhove by evacuation train to Ivano-Frankivsk City, where we lived for two months with a family that warmly welcomed us. They supported us not only by providing shelter but also by offering immense emotional support. I am very grateful to Ivano-Frankivsk and its residents. It was a time for me to gather my thoughts and decide what to do next.”

Coping with a challenging period of searching and changes, Natalia and her son moved from Ivano-Frankivsk to Obukhiv City in Kyiv Region, where they found a new home and began integrating into the community. Here, Natalia continued to work remotely, providing legal assistance and consultations to citizens and government bodies in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. Through her professional and volunteer activities, she found the strength to cope with emotional burnout and began considering new directions for development, including the restoration of water bodies in her native Donetsk Region.

“Among global ideas unrelated to my legal work, I had a desire to implement projects related to the natural environment, specifically restoring water bodies in the Donetsk Region. Due to underground coal mining and the negligent attitude of economic entities, many water reservoirs in the Donetsk Region disappear rapidly. The water supply of the region relies mainly on one source – the Seversky Donets River – but its water volume gradually diminishes, and its quality deteriorates. I often dreamed of how I could restore dried-up ponds, return the rivers to their original natural state, and then travel through Donetsk Region with my grown-up son, showing him the natural beauty of our homeland. The thought of aligning my future activities with solar energy never crossed my mind.”

Despite doubts and a lack of experience in solar energy, Natalia decided to try mastering a new profession and filled out an application to participate in the educational course “Solar Start: an educational course for veterans and IDP” implemented by our RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation.

“I took the risk and filled out the application. During the waiting period, I pondered a lot about solar energy in my future life. These thoughts “lit up” in my mind and gave me hope that I had finally found the direction to move forward. On the weekend, in the evening, they called me and invited me for an interview. I was very excited and nervous at the same time, as I hadn’t changed my job for almost 20 years.”

For Natalia, the topic of solar energy became not just a new direction but a genuine passion. She diligently studies and puts in every effort to understand the technical nuances of this field. Participation in the project not only gives her new knowledge but also instills confidence in her abilities and the courage to move forward.

“It’s interesting, it’s promising, it’s necessary for our country, and beneficial for the environment. Participation in the educational project enriches my life, making it meaningful and purposeful. I especially want to highlight sessions with psychologists that give me confidence that I can handle all the complex life situations, move forward, develop, and build my happiness. Very grateful to the RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation for supporting internally displaced persons, providing the opportunity to gain new knowledge in solar energy and change my life. I hope this project will be the ”solar star”’ I was searching for.”

Natalia’s story embodies courage and self-belief. We take pride in her success and wish her strength and inspiration on this journey towards her new profession. We hope that this solar project marks just the beginning of Natalia achieving her dreams. The RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation remains by her side, providing all the necessary support.

This project was created by the RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation under the “Support to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)” Program in Ukraine with financial support from the British Embassy. The program is implemented by Crown Agents in partnership with International Alert and in cooperation with Crown Agents in Ukraine.

The content of the course information page does not necessarily reflect the views of the British Embassy, Crown Agents, International Alert, or Crown Agents in Ukraine.