Our Mentees
In the face of war, leadership isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity.
Shaping Ukraine’s Future
These young women have faced immense challenges—completing their education in bomb shelters, balancing household responsibilities, and volunteering tirelessly to support their communities. With resilience and determination, they are stepping up as leaders, creating impact and driving change where it’s needed most.
Adelina Diakova
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Opportunity Fair
Volunteer work: SpivDia Dnipro
From: Dnipro, Dnipro Oblast, Central Ukraine
Top Issues: People leaving Ukraine / Violation of women's rights / Political conflicts that seem to be escalating globally
Interested in: Governmental / Public / Nonprofit / Charitable Organizations / Education
Adelina currently works as a Professional of Innovation Activities at "Dotyk" Municipal Enterprise of Dnipro City Council
Anastasia Kashlikuova
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Green Mission Epidemiology & Virology Podcast
Volunteer work: Organized scientific conferences and projects in chemistry and pediatrics for junior medical specialists.
From: Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine
Top Issues: Staying true in my field of public health / Finding and retaining friends / Communication
Interested in: Science / Research Activities / Healthcare / Medicine / Education
Bohdana Hura
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Feel, Fulfill and Lift Up
Volunteer work: Facilitated psychological support groups as part of the "Children and War" program and provided guidance and care for children from Mariupol during a 7-day camp.
From: Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Western Ukraine
Top Issues: Empowering youth development / Enhancing psychological well-being for military and civilians / Addressing the gap in financial literacy
Interested in: Medicine / Healthcare/ NGOs / History
Bohdana started a job working with internally displaced parents and children at an afterschool program in a local school in Lviv, Ukraine.
Elizabeth Karpetchenko
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Head of the SMM department at JLU - the student organization of journalists.
From: Hornostaivka, Kakhovka Raion, Kherson Oblast, Southern Ukraine
Top Issues: Gender inequality gap / Economic stratification within Ukrainian society / High level of corruption
Interested in: Marketing / Sales / Media / PR / Psychology / History / Culture / Art
Elizabeth Taran
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Opportunity Fair
Volunteer work: 'Give a Holiday to a Child', and co-organizer of the charity 'Student City Cup of Humor' / Member of the organizing committee of the event "Quiz" (an intellectual team game for 1st-4th year students of NTU DP)
From: Dnipro, Dnipro Oblast, Central Ukraine
Top Issues: Ageism / Corruption / Poverty
Interested in: Government / Nonprofit / Education / Media / PR
Karyna Stukhonog
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Feel, Fulfill and Lift Up
Volunteer work: 'Building Ukraine Together' – served as an Iron Volunteer, contributing to community rebuilding efforts. During the coronavirus pandemic, supported social deliveries between Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol through 'Students for Volunteering'. Facilitated empowering training sessions for women at 'Vilna', a space organized by the NGO 'League of Modern Women'.
From: Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Northeast Ukraine
Top Issues: Fostering engagement among youth / Fighting ingrained prejudices / Encouraging empathy and consideration for others
Interested in: Government / Public / Nonprofit / Marketing / Media / PR
Karyna completed her physical therapy training and started teaching stretching exercises classes online for maximum outreach. Because of it, she was invited into a professional rehabilitation and recovery program for Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front lines with musculoskeletal injuries.
Kateryna Neumyvako
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Feel, Fulfill and Lift Up
Volunteer work: 'Teenergizer' – a charitable organization dedicated to offering psychological support and consultations to Ukrainian youth
From: Sofiivska Borshchahivka, Kyiv Oblast, Central Ukraine
Top Issues: Mental health / Education, financial literacy / Critical thinking, dependency on social media networks and social opinion
Interested in: Government / NGO/ Economics / Finance / Education / Psychology
Kateryna started an internship in the field of human psychology and AI, encouraged by a conversation with one of the mentors about AI and mental health.
Liana Lichtenwald
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Armed Forces of Ukraine
From: Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine
Top Issues: Insufficient support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) / Unclear reconstruction program for war-affected regions / Low-quality education
Interested in: Media / PR / Finance / Business / Economics
Marya Vinnitchenko
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Organized and managed school sports events
From: Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine
Top Issues: Conflicts and wars that jeopardize the peace and safety of communities
Interested in: Governmental / Public / Nonprofit / Charitable Organizations / Education
Marya now interns with the Program's fitness coach, Yuliya Vetkasova, teaching exercise classes.
Margarita Shatkovska
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Green Mission
Volunteer work: World's Largest Lesson (Global) 2023 on Sustainable Development Goals; ROBOTICA 2023 - STEM festival for high schoolers in Ukraine
From: Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Central Ukraine
Top Issues: Embracing responsible consumption / Ensuring quality education / Reduction of inequality
Interested in: Finance / Business / Entrepreneurship / Education / IT / Marketing / Sales
Margarita pursued her newfound interest in AI following one of the program’s presentations and participated in the IT hackathon (Ukraine). She also began volunteering at the Nezabutni [‘Unforgettable’] Charitable Foundation memory café for older people with dementia.
Marya Kuzmina
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Humanity & Inclusion (HI) NGO Ukraine
From: Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, South Ukraine
Top Issues: Addressing the issue of the "glass ceiling" / Recognizing the importance of empathy as a crucial management tool / Combatting corruption
Interested in: Psychology / Scientific Research
Maria Shevchuk
Graduated in 2024
Impact: National Debate on Criminal Law
Volunteer work: Assistant for Academic Competition, Law Students Union
From: Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Central Ukraine
Top Issues: Democracy, issues around peace and disarmament / Confrontation of two ideologies / Ecological or environmental crisis
Interested in: Finance / Business / Economics / Entrepreneurship
Kateryna Yeryomenko
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Children's center SPILNO by UNICEF - conducting workshops for children
From: Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine
Top Issues: Free learning opportunities / Women's leadership / Inclusive space
Interested in: Finance / Business / Economics / Entrepreneurship / IT
Nika Zayats
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Green Mission
Volunteer work: Student organization "Vidlunnya"; making camouflage netting, packing and delivering items to the victims of war
From: Rivne, Rivne Oblast, Western Ukraine
Top Issues: Scarcity of qualified female volunteers
Interested in: Marketing / Sales / Media / PR / History / Culture / Art
Olha Bondareva
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Green Mission
Volunteer work: 'Mentee from Eastern Ukraine' for displaced children and orphans; 'Unforgettable' events for people with dementia and their families
From: Boryspil, Kyiv Oblast, Central Ukraine
Top Issues: Systemic discrimination against minorities and women / Propagation of violence under the guise of toxic pacifism / Distortion of social dynamics through the prism of social media networks
Interested in: Education / History / Culture / Art
Solomiya Lukuovska
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Feel, Fulfill and Lift Up
Volunteer work: "Christian Ukrainian Youth" - organizing charity events, visiting families of fallen soldiers, lonely people, orphanages; organizing clean-up activities
From: Ternopil, Ternopil Oblast, Western Ukraine
Top Issues: Environmental pollution/ Quality and access to education in Ukraine / Mental health
Interested in: Governmental / Public / Nonprofit / Charitable Organizations / Education
Vika Dashkovska
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Lviv Book Forum and Festival European Heritage Days
From: Khmelnytskyi, Western Ukraine
Top Issues: Lack of qualified teachers and adequate teaching materials / Inequality / Ecology
Interested in: Finance / Business / Economics / Entrepreneurship / Marketing / Sales
Yaroslava Tsiulina
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: 'Ltava' – A choreographic ensemble that performs charity concerts to raise funds in support of the Ukrainian Army
From: Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine
Top Issues: Fostering the development of the creative community / Cultivating talents and promoting innovations in the field of art / Availability of education in art and science
Interested in: Media / PR / History / Culture / Art
Veronika Pavliuk
Graduated in 2024
Volunteer work: Teaching choreography and dance to internally displaced children and youth
From: Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine
Interested in: Media / PR / Sales
Sophia Belenchuk
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Feel, Fulfill and Lift Up
Volunteer work: Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
From: Hola Prystan, Kherson Oblast, Southern Ukraine
Top Issues: Highlighting women's voices and concerns in the workplace / Breaking down gender stereotypes / Celebrating women as equals in art and science
Interested in: Science / Research Activities / History / Culture / Art
Inspired by working with the Program’s psychologist, Sophia changed her university major to Psychology and Linguistics; she also started a part-time job working with internally displaced families.
Valeria Hladka
Graduated in 2024
Impact: Green Mission
Volunteer work: 'Unbreakable Youth - NEZLAMNA MOLOD'
From: Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast, Southern Ukraine
Top Issues: Inertia, disinterest and lack of motivation among young people / Lack of awareness about available opportunities among young people / Difficulty in establishing cooperation between NGOs and local authorities / Burnout of NGO staff
Interested in: NGO / Education / History / Culture / Art