SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MATTERS

Follow Up Ukraine

Follow Up Ukraine

As part of the Erasmus+ project SCRATCH-PRO: Sustainable Business Matters – From Scratch to Pitch, the Ukrainian team implemented a series of impactful follow-up activities throughout May and June 2025. These actions aimed to disseminate the project's core messages on sustainable entrepreneurship, non-formal education, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to wider audiences across Ukraine and beyond.

📍 On May 27, 2025, Marta Krasnonosova led an in-person session at Jappware Company in Lviv, gathering around 20 young professionals aged 25–30. The activity served as a space to introduce the Erasmus+ framework, explore the SDGs, and discuss how Ukrainian businesses are contributing to sustainability even in times of crisis. Marta shared insights from the SCRATCH-PRO training and inspired participants to reflect on their roles in promoting social responsibility through business. The event was a powerful example of how informal learning can motivate young people toward conscious action.

📍 The next day, May 28, 2025, Viktoriia Strilets facilitated a high-impact session at the Poltava University of Economics and Trade, with 59 participants aged 17 to 55. The diverse group—comprising students, youth workers, and professors—was introduced to the principles and methodologies shared during the SCRATCH-PRO project in Cyprus. Viktoriia presented tools for developing sustainable business models, highlighted opportunities in Erasmus+ programs, and encouraged critical thinking about corporate responsibility. The large turnout and strong engagement demonstrated significant local interest in sustainable entrepreneurship and international learning.

📍 On June 6, 2025, Yuliia Talovir hosted an online follow-up session via Google Meet, reaching 18–20 participants aged 18–28 from across Ukraine and abroad. The attendees included students, company employees, activists, and young entrepreneurs. Yuliia discussed the project's theme of sustainability in business, guided participants through the SDGs, and facilitated the use of an online footprint calculator. She also shared personal experiences from the training and provided resources and links for youth to apply to Erasmus+ projects. The session effectively extended the reach of SCRATCH-PRO to international youth and Ukrainian diaspora communities.

📍 Finally, on June 7, 2025, Anna Popova conducted a workshop at the Ukrainian Academy of Leadership in Lviv, engaging 27 youth aged 17–20, including volunteers, students, and community leaders. The interactive session focused on ecological footprints, brand sustainability practices, and inspiring Ukrainian companies like BetterMe and Promprylad. Anna also shared her Erasmus+ journey, sparking discussions on responsible entrepreneurship and the power of youth engagement in social innovation. The session was well-received and reinforced the transformative potential of non-formal education.

Each activity was documented through photos, videos, and social media posts, maximizing visibility and sustaining the project's impact beyond its initial implementation. Together, these four follow-up actions successfully localized the outcomes of SCRATCH-PRO and empowered dozens of young people and professionals to think critically and act sustainably.

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Evaluation Paragraph from Participants

Talovir Yuliia 9/06

The project organized by ACPELIA was truly inspiring! It left me motivated to create something meaningful and impactful back in my home country. As a participant, I felt supported, safe, and fully engaged throughout the entire experience. The activities were especially enriching — I particularly enjoyed the "You in 5 years" visioning exercise, the session on MVP (Minimum Viable Product), and the fun yet insightful "bad product marketing" challenge, especially the theatrical part where we got to creatively present our ideas. Every day was packed with useful insights, hands-on sessions, and meaningful evening reflections, where we could openly share our thoughts, feelings, and suggestions. The final day with local entrepreneurs was also a highlight for me. It gave us a real-world perspective, though I think it would be even more impactful if we had the chance to actually visit the farm and see the work up close. Overall, it was an unforgettable and deeply valuable experience!

Strilets Viktoriia

Across these seven days, the project successfully fostered collaboration, creativity, and deep intercultural understanding amongst participants from different European countries. Each day was carefully designed to blend interactive games, workshops, team tasks, and cultural exchanges in a way that challenged participants to step outside their comfort zones, reflect on their goals, and develop skills relevant to their future endeavors. Activities like the "portrait drawing game" and "Tingo-Tango" energized the group and broke down barriers, while workshops — from "Elements of Value" and "Business Model Canvas" to crisis-solving scenarios — provided valuable, hands-on experience in problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking. Furthermore, the rich array of cultural nights, excursions, and team-building exercises encouraged participants to appreciate diversity, form friendships across borders, and reflect on their roles in a rapidly changing world. Overall, the combination of interactive methods, shared goals, and a supportive environment made this project a powerful, holistic learning experience that not only broadened knowledge and skills but also fostered a deep sense of unity, cooperation, and shared purpose.

Marta Krasnonosova

The project organized by ACPELIA was truly inspiring and well-coordinated. From the beginning, communication was clear, and the pre-activities, Facebook group, and webpage helped set the tone and expectations. The implementation of the project was strong—activities like the Business Model Canvas, crisis-solving tasks, and creative marketing challenges were both practical and engaging. I appreciated the balance between structured learning and time for reflection. The cultural exchange and teamwork were definite highlights for me. For future improvements, more real-life immersion—such as visiting the local farm—and slightly more flexible scheduling could make the experience even better. Overall, I left the project with valuable skills, fresh ideas, and meaningful connections that I'm excited to bring home.

Anna Popova

The training by ACPELIA was incredibly valuable and insightful for me. I deepened my understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of sustainable business. The organizers did an outstanding job — from preparing detailed info packs and communicating clearly on all matters, to designing an engaging training and staying actively involved in the entire process. I especially want to highlight how great the accommodation and meals were throughout the training. I also appreciated the structured schedule and the fact that we stuck to the planned timing. Working in international teams and constantly changing group members was a big plus — I'm sure it contributed significantly to improving my professional skills. My favorite parts of the program were the marketing session, developing and pitching our own business ideas in teams, and of course, the hiking activity. I also really valued the daily reflections at the end of each day and how the organizers listened to our feedback and stayed flexible. Huge thanks to the entire ACPELIA team for such a well-organized and meaningful experience!

Online dissemination links for the promotion of the project

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