Olesia Izuita from Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast, opened a children’s entertainment center with a grant from USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity. With the money, she equipped the center with furniture, toys, and games. In a blink of an eye the center  became a favorite place for children's parties and birthday celebrations.

Toddlers and young children finally had a place to go, but teenagers were left out and that is where her story gets interesting.

They say a crisis sows the seeds of opportunity. This is especially true in today’s Ukraine, where the ongoing conflict with Russia has catapulted an enduring sense of national pride among Ukrainians into a juggernaut of action. As they work to throw off the aggression, Ukrainians are also focused on securing their country’s rightful place as a global economic leader. Government and private entities have torn down old barriers to finance and investment for farmers and agri-investors, while the executive and legislative branches work to open land markets.