Publication date: 26.05.2025
Iryna Lukecha is an experienced psychotherapist, psychologist, and trainer with a strong background in international humanitarian work, trauma recovery, and psychosocial support. Since 2022, she has actively contributed to global mental health initiatives through her work with International Medical Relief (USA), where she currently serves as a Team Leader. Iryna also collaborates with refugee support foundations in Poland, working with children, families, and individuals with special needs, including autism and ADHD. Her diverse international training, including certification in Breath-Body-Mind Therapy (USA) and Psychosomatics (Ukraine), underpins her holistic and client-centered approach. She has also coordinated cross-border humanitarian projects supported by the Danish Government and Red Cross.
Recovery through Entrepreneurship: How Coaching Helped Refugee Women Build Businesses and Regain Self-Worth
Women forced to flee their homes due to war—saving themselves and their children—often find themselves in a foreign country with no resources, no acquaintances, and no sense of control over their lives. In such conditions, survival is not the only challenge; maintaining dignity and starting anew become essential. This is the focus of a project initiated by Mastercard and Impact, in which life coach Iryna Lulekecha mentored 80 Ukrainian women striving not just to adapt but to build a business in a new environment.
It wasn’t just coaching — it was deep work on identity, trauma, and inner resilience. Many participants had lost loved ones, homes, jobs, and a sense of purpose. But step by step — with support, a plan, and belief — these women created something new. Not just for themselves, but for their children and the society that welcomed them.
Project Context
The project was launched in 2023 in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Its goal was not just to provide financial or educational support, but to empower women with entrepreneurial potential who didn’t know where to start in a new reality.
The participants were 80 refugee women with children, living in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and other European countries. For many of them, entrepreneurship wasn’t a dream — it was a necessity: a way to feed their families, maintain independence, and build a new role in society.
Stages of the Coaching Work
1. Emotional Recovery and Stabilization
- One-on-one coaching sessions to discuss loss, trauma, and fears.
- Group meetings to normalize emotional states through shared experiences.
- Working on guilt, helplessness, and self-esteem.
2. Creating a Vision and Personal Mission
- Identifying life values and what they want to create.
- Analyzing past experience: what skills they already have and what they can offer.
- Finding answers: “Why do I want a business?” “What problem do I want to solve?”
3. Practical Preparation for Launch
- Building a business model (even with minimal start-up capital).
- Studying local laws, tax regulations, and registration rules.
- Preparing presentations, social media pages, and first sales.
Project Outcomes
- Launch of 80 real businesses — online stores, salons, workshops, services.
- Over 60% of women earned a stable income within the first 6 months.
- Every second participant returned to education or started a new profession.
- Psycho-emotional recovery and improved self-esteem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
Is it really possible to start a business without experience?
Answer
Yes, the key is to have the desire and support. A coach helps structure your idea, choose the right direction, and find resources.
Question
What if I’m afraid to speak publicly, sell, or be “visible”?
Answer
That’s common. Coaching helps overcome these fears and find a working style that feels comfortable for you.
Question
How do I balance entrepreneurship and motherhood?
Answer
By learning to plan, delegate, and set boundaries, women can combine these roles without burnout.
Testimonial from the Project:
The project by Mastercard and Impact, with coach Iryna Lulekecha, became not just an economic initiative but a powerful transformation for dozens of women. It’s proof that even after devastating loss, one can create something new — from scratch, with belief and support. If you’re looking for a fresh start — consider coaching. It’s about discovering the possibilities already within you.
