Support and Employment of Veterans and Their Families

The reintegration of veterans is one of the key challenges facing Ukrainian society. Despite the presence of government, business, and civil initiatives, most of them operate in a fragmented way and do not take into account the real needs of servicemembers. This often leads to a loss of motivation, psychological barriers, and difficulties with professional self-realization.

According to the IREX “Veteran Reintegration Study”, one of the main challenges for veterans is the need to acquire a new specialization. 57% of veterans face employment difficulties due to the lack of quality retraining programs and adapted workplaces. That’s why the Heart of Azovstal NGO created a unique comprehensive program called “Find Your Way”, which covers all stages of reintegration – with a dedicated specialist supporting and motivating participants at each step. The goal of the program is to help veterans determine their next steps, choose a profession, and achieve success in it.

From the Experience of War to New Meaning

The veteran’s journey consists of five stages:

• Awareness of a new life
• Gradual acceptance of experience
• Searching for new goals
• Development of skills and competencies
• Self-realization

The first steps of this journey are made together with a project manager. After that, a psychologist conducts a mental health check-up (diagnosing PTSD, mental changes, and cognitive features). Through this work, veterans overcome psychological difficulties caused by the trauma of war, gaining the inner strength to find their new purpose in civilian life. Career mentors then help them discover a new calling, reflect on their experiences, and understand how to apply them in a civilian profession. If needed, veterans can also receive free higher education, retraining, or professional development within the program.

“When a defender returns to civilian life and suddenly has a wide range of options, it’s easy to get lost. That’s why professional career guidance is crucial – it prevents a loss of motivation if a veteran starts studying or working in an unsuitable field. We help them find their path. But of course, the person must also take responsibility for staying on that path,” says Oleksandra Bashkatova, Project Manager.

Although Find Your Way follows a structured algorithm, the Heart of Azovstal team applies an individual approach to each case, focusing on the specific needs of every participant.

For example, Hennadii Azzheurov worked in the patrol police for nearly 30 years. During the assault on Mariupol, he was captured and later released. After his return, he completely changed his career – at age 55, he studied HR management and later joined the Find Your Way team as a career mentor for other veterans. 

Another defender of Mariupol, Hennadii Khazan, decided to pursue a career in culinary arts. Cooking had always been his hobby, and his wife owned a small bakery in Mariupol. During the battles, he was wounded and lost everything – his home, business, and city. Now living with his family in Kyiv, he dreamed of rebuilding his own business. Thanks to the program, Hennadii trained at the Cuisine Mode d’Emploi(s) culinary school in Toulouse under Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, where he mastered both the art of cooking and the basics of restaurant management. 

Communication Campaign: Help That Has Faces, Stories, and Results

The communication strategy of the Find Your Way program focuses not on the initiative itself but on the real stories of its participants. At the center are veterans who, after combat and even captivity, faced the challenge of starting over. Their stories are not abstractions but concrete steps: doubts, searches, studies, first professional experiences, and transformations in how they see themselves and the world.

“We don’t just showcase veterans’ success stories – we create a real wave of inspiration through them. Each journey, each victory is a living example of how one can recover, find new opportunities, and build the future. These stories show that after war, not only is it possible to return to life – it’s possible to create a new, stronger one with new meaning,” says Oleksandr Aleksandrov, PR Director of the Heart of Azovstal NGO. 

The Heart of Azovstal team chose a multiplatform approach to sharing these stories – through special projects with leading media outlets, digital campaigns on social networks, video content, and public talks by veterans who share their experiences firsthand. One of the most powerful channels remains word of mouth – veterans recommending the program to one another, as peer trust is the most convincing form of communication.

This approach not only promotes the program but also helps reshape society’s attitude toward the reintegration of veterans, building a shared understanding of the need for support.

So far, 483 veterans have received support through Find Your Way: some are just beginning, some are studying, and others are already employed or developing their own businesses. The Heart of Azovstal NGO continues its mission and aims to help over 200 more veterans find employment this year.