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Maria, a store owner, smiles as she holds cookies in her shop.

As HOPE International has walked with entrepreneurs in Ukraine over the last 25 years, we’ve come to cherish the dreams they have for their families and neighborhoods. We’ve seen them use their God-given talents to create incredible businesses that meet the needs of their communities and provide for their families.

Since Russia first invaded Ukraine, the headline images have shown destruction and the anxious faces of men and women who are facing the very real stresses of war. Yet amid the distress and displacement of millions, we remember the names, stories, and dreams of the people we serve. This is personal for us.

Below, we want to honor the entrepreneurship and hard work of the men and women that HOPE Ukraine walks with. As you learn about their businesses and take in their smiles, we invite you to pray for them by name.

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The war in Ukraine rages on, with the fighting concentrated in southern, eastern, and northern regions. Thus far, Ukrainian forces have strongly resisted Russian attacks, and there is a great spirit of unity among Ukrainians. The United Nations estimates that over 2 million people have evacuated Ukraine as refugees, and millions more are displaced within Ukraine, having relocated to areas farther away from areas under attack. Continue Reading…

Update: We have a more recent update as of March 9 here.

Russia has launched a large-scale invasion on Ukraine, where HOPE International first began microfinance operations to serve Ukrainian entrepreneurs and families 25 years ago. Bombings and attacks have been reported across the entire country. We are in daily contact with HOPE Ukraine staff as we consider how we can best serve and respond.  

We’re firm believers in the power of prayer, and as supporters of HOPE, the most impactful thing you can do right now is pray—please learn more below to know how you can join us in prayer.   Continue Reading…

As the possibility of escalated violence between Ukraine and Russia increases, we hold the people of Ukraine in our hearts with grave concern and ask for God’s divine intervention.

And we invite you to join us because we believe in the power of prayer: that God moves when His children ask.

We have a deep love for the people of Ukraine. HOPE International distributed its first loans in Zaporozhye in 1997, and we know that this conflict has concerned HOPE Ukraine staff and clients since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and a conflict began in the east of the country.

We hurt with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who have lived under the shadow of conflict for so long. Yet we trust God, remembering He is all-powerful and all-knowing.

Here are four ways you can pray for Ukraine: Continue Reading…

Tetiana Ohyria knows that a haircut is about so much more than looking good. As a professional stylist in Ukraine, she sees her job as a way to dignify others and bring joy to her community. “I make them look nice, and they smile. My calling is to help people!” she says.

As early as 6 years old, Tetiana knew she wanted to be a hairstylist. Her parents weren’t sure of the practicality of her decision and suggested other career paths. But Tetiana was determined to make her dream a reality. After cosmetology school, she began to work in a shared salon space in a nearby city, where she spent 30 years developing her skill set and building a loyal clientele. Continue Reading…

Pediatrician Olga Hoi examines a baby

In 2017, a Politico article titled “In Ukraine, health care is free (except when it’s not),” lamented the state of Ukraine’s “underfunded, corrupt, and inaccessible” health care system. Since then, reforms attempting to address these limitations have empowered private doctors to compete with state clinics for public funding, enhancing quality of care and patient choice.

In 2020, as the importance of health care reached a new pinnacle, HOPE Ukraine received a loan application from Olga Hoi, a young doctor who had founded her own clinic after years of service as a pediatrician in a Ukrainian state hospital. Continue Reading…