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On November, 12, 2024 at 201 N Main Business Center, online 16 amazing Ukrainian women building their own businesses despite war, displacement, lonely parenting (their husbands are at the war), constant stress and strain, met 4 super women -- small business owners from the USA, Farmville. Women are so strong, in their wisdom, experience, courage, and sharing makes them invincible. It is hard to put into words how important it was for Ukrainian women to communicate with their American peers and feel that support. I am extremely grateful to magnificent Sundari Cifers - Lex on Main Boutique, Nikouri Brown - Creative PM Solutions, and April Leithleiter - Farm owner.

The name of the program was Mindfulness Retreat 2.0: Restart Yourself and Your Business, and in 2024 it was funded by the Cifers Foundation. This is a four-day event in Zakarpattia Oblast (Ukraine)  that aimed to help women entrepreneurs regain strength, find inspiration and support for further development. The program included yoga, meditation, business growth workshops, and intensive networking among women facing similar challenges.

Ukrainian women's entrepreneurship has suffered significant losses due to the war: 95% of women's businesses have been affected, and the majority of the 7.9 million Ukrainian refugees are women with children, making their professional development much more difficult. Despite the difficulties, women in Ukraine are actively developing entrepreneurship: 59% of new small enterprises in 2024 were registered by women, and the number of women in business increased by 43% between 2021 and 2023. Women-owned businesses are flexible, detail-oriented, and responsible, with a focus on employees and their families. That's why U&WE Hub develops special entrepreneurship programs to develop women's entrepreneurship and strengthen the mental health of the participants in 5 regions. We have already covered 6600+ women entrepreneurs. 

The U&WE Hub (Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs) is a community of conscious women entrepreneurs and stakeholders who support the development of women's businesses. The mission of U&WE Hub is to comprehensively support current and future women entrepreneurs by providing them with the opportunity to learn, share experiences, and interact to create sustainable businesses with social impact.  

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Social bakery Good Bread from Good People and design studio Between the Walls, with support of The Cifers Foundation, launched an initiative that provides jobs to people with mental disabilities, demonstrating their contribution to the development of society.

Currently, the bakery is located in an old four-story building on DVRZ in Kyiv. Together with the design studio Between the Walls, which is developing the interior concept, and The Cifers Foundation the bakery team aims to transform the fourth floor of the building into a modern multifunctional space that will include cozy accommodation for the four bakery workers who are currently forced to live in unacceptable conditions; a lecture hall for activities aimed at the socialization and development of people with mental disabilities and other members of the community.

"The fourth floor will be a place where education and support come together: a lecture hall for the training of social therapists and a room for supported living of adults with mental disabilities will work here." — says Vladyslav Malashchenko, founder of Good Bread from Good People. — "We aim to complete the renovation in a few months to expand our capacity and provide a level playing field for those who need it most. We are currently looking for construction materials and partners who are ready to join this important work."

“It’s not the first project for the Cifers Foundation and Between the Walls. In my opinion, what is important is not only helping people in need, but also sustainable opportunities for the development of society, the development of a culture of philanthropy. We can't wait for the results of this wonderful project!" - said the president of the foundation, Anastasia Cifers.

https://pragmatika.media/en/news/good-bread-from-good-people-sotsialna-initsiatyva-do-iakoi-mozhe-doluchytysia-kozhen/

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On 23rd of August 2024 in honor to Ukrainian Flag and Ukrainian Independence Day, we held outstanding cultural event “Public reading of Ukrainian Literature in English and Ukrainian of Taras Shevchenko "Kobzar" poetry”. We were able to celebrate modestly such a wonderful day in the circle of dearest friends of Ukraine at the Greenwood Library of Longwood University.

“I am infinitely grateful to Brent Roberts and his wonderful team for supporting our idea. My heart is full of gratitude to those amazing people! I am extremely grateful to all our friends who so heartily read the poetry of Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Franko”- said Anastasiia Cifers.

As readers there were community & church leaders, cultural activists of our area and Ukrainian refugees that live in Farmville, VA: Tehya Logue, Bohdan Syvak, Ksenia Popsui, Oleksandra Alieksieieva, Brian Vincent, Ruth Peyton, Kenneth Jake Carroll, Anastasiia Alieksieieva, Jenny Thomas McIntosh, Yevheniia Alieksieieva, Stephanie Martin, Tamara Dubrovina, Jalila Jill Ahmad, Luther Cifers.

Also it was donated about fifty Ukrainian books (with support of Ukrainian Publishing Organisation  “Summit-Book”) from Cifers Foundation to Longwood University Library. 

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With support of Dr Anastasiia Cifers, the international cooperation of Longwood University and Ukrainian National University named after Taras Shevchenko was established. The Letter of Intent to foster international cooperation in education and research was signed in April 2024.

Both parties will encourage the following activities to promote international academic cooperation:

1. a) Exchange of materials in education and research, publications, and academic information:
2. b) Exchange of faculty and research scholars;
3. c) Exchange of students;
4. d) Joint research and meetings for education and research;
5. e) Technical assistance.

This Letter of Intent forms the framework for cooperation between the parties to identify and achieve shared goals and objectives, and to facilitate and develop a genuine and mutually beneficial exchange process and research relationship. This Letter of Intent is non-binding and does not impose any legal or financial obligations or liabilities on either party.

“I am very proud of this beginning of scientific cooperation between two great universities, two nations. For Ukraine, this is of great importance, because in these difficult historical times, international support and cooperation have a very positive psychological meaning” – said Anastasiia Cifers.

From the letter of Volodymyr BUGROV, Chancellor of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University to President Walter Taylor Reveley IV,  Larissa Smith - Provost and Vice President of the Division of Academic Affairs, Patricia Trent - Executive Director of the Center for Global Engagement:

"The signing of this Letter of Intent between Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University and Longwood University is a landmark event for Ukraine and the United States of America in light of Ukraine's ongoing commitment to a democratic vector of state development.

In the ongoing, fierce struggle of our people against the Russian aggressor, we deeply appreciate the powerful military, resource, and moral support of Ukraine by the government and citizens of the United States of America. While this support is critical in our fight to protect our homeland, and necessary to secure a Ukrainian victory, it’s important to note that it is more than that.  This growing relationship between the United States of America and Ukraine also provides opportunities, incentives, and examples for Ukraine to not only preserve our presence as a democratic ally in Eastern Europe, but to facilitate the reforms that are necessary to ensure that we further the development of our young democracy, together with the United States and our other global partners.

It is very important for our institutions of higher education to establish scientific and educational cooperation within the framework of international exchange, because one of the main tasks of the newly established Educational and Scientific Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service is to increase the effectiveness of educational and research activities in the field of training human resources for the implementation of public policy in Ukraine.

We deeply appreciate your attitude, patience, time and sharing your values in action".

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