Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, life has been unpredictable and precarious for Ukrainian families. Besides daily threats of missile strikes and disrupted power and water supply, men and women have also faced ongoing social and economic instability.
Still, as HOPE Ukraine continues to work toward flourishing for all its clients, we have seen the Lord provide. This year, the team celebrated several major milestones since the war began!
In June, HOPE Ukraine reached 100% operational self-sufficiency (OSS)! This means their revenue generated from loan repayments can completely cover local operating expenses. Beyond sustainability, this matters because any external donations will now fuel additional expansion and innovation to better serve more Ukrainian entrepreneurs.
Another milestone worth celebrating: HOPE Ukraine doubled their loan portfolio to $3.7 million in just four years! This means more entrepreneurs are accessing the capital they need to keep businesses alive, create jobs, and rebuild communities when many commercial banks have stopped lending. And it points to the trust we have with Ukrainian entrepreneurs—in one of the hardest times to do business.
Most of all, we praise God for how these milestones indicate real impact for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Since February 2022, HOPE Ukraine and our local partners have:
- Served 389 Ukrainian entrepreneurs
- Disbursed over $6.5 million in loans
- Helped create and sustain jobs for 1,470 people
- Equipped 16 churches to start 67 savings groups, serving over 650 people—including 500+ internally displaced persons (IDPs)
No place in Ukraine is truly safe, yet our team remains resilient, continuing to serve our clients and support the local economy.
Andriy Kopyl, managing director for HOPE Ukraine
Pointing entrepreneurs back to eternal hope and holistic health
HOPE Ukraine also continues to keep Gospel hope and holistic health at the center of their work. This year, they’ve taken additional steps to invest in the spiritual health of the men and women they serve—as well as their staff!
The team recently hosted two training retreats for small and medium enterprise clients on healthy business culture, using HOPE’s PASSION acronym (prayer, allegiance, service, stewardship, innovation, optimism) as a framework. In workshops, clients revised their mission, vision, and culture to create space for mutual learning and feedback.
Praise God that HOPE Ukraine’s team models a healthy workplace culture to the individuals we serve! One entrepreneur approached HOPE Ukraine’s managing director and shared, “There is something different about you all. I know you go to church. Can I join you?”
We know the road ahead for the people of Ukraine won’t be easy—the country continues to face challenges like 12% national unemployment (International Monetary Fund) and 3.8 million IDPs (International Organization for Migration). But by God’s grace, HOPE Ukraine continues to stand firm, committed to Christ and serving Ukrainian entrepreneurs in an hour when they need it most.
Pray with us that more Ukrainian entrepreneurs will come to know Christ, and that God continues to protect our staff and those they serve amid continued air and ground attacks.
We believe in the power of prayer. Want to pray through continued updates on HOPE’s work in Ukraine and other countries we serve worldwide? Sign up for our monthly prayer update emails.
Pictured in header image: Andriy Kopyl, managing director, takes a call during a power outage
