Our compatriot from Siverskodonetsk, Nataliya Cherna, is currently engaged in the restoration and redesign of old furniture in the Khmelnytskyi region.

In 2025, Natalia submitted a business plan to an international grant program and even made it to the second round, but she was rejected, preferring other projects. This did not stop the craftswoman, and in 2026 she tried again - in her community.

She estimated her business project at almost 150 thousand UAH and presented it for consideration by the Commission.

With these funds, Natalia purchased an EcoFlow to support the workshop's electricity supply during blackouts. She invested the rest of the money in workshop equipment - she purchased a milling and sawing machine, a band saw, a construction vacuum cleaner, and a workbench. The new equipment accelerated the restoration and opened up opportunities for her own products: wooden lanterns and tray tables.

In July, Natalia visited Kyiv for the first national DIY Culture Award in Ukraine, which recognizes upcycling masters and popularizers of conscious redesign. Unexpectedly for herself, she was among the nominees in the “Restorator of the Year” category.

We are proud of how diligently our participants develop their own businesses, creating stable prospects for themselves and their families.