In Ukraine, REDpreneur uses social entrepreneurship as a tool for resilience and recovery. Through training, mentoring, financial support and networking, entrepreneurs and Ukrainian Red Cross teams are supported in developing economically sustainable activities that respond to the needs of their communities.
REDPreneurUA: an Austrian Red Cross initiative taking root in Ukraine
REDpreneur is a global initiative of the Austrian Red Cross that harnesses entrepreneurship to strengthen the resilience of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, local entrepreneurs and vulnerable communities.
More about REDpreneur
In Ukraine, its local adaptation, REDpreneurUA, combines training, incubation, acceleration, mentoring and, for selected participants, seed funding to support the development of income-generating activities and sustainable social enterprises. REDpreneur Ukraine is also supported by the French Red Cross through its partnership with the Austrian Red Cross, as part of a broader commitment to supporting the long-term development of local communities.
One strand of the programme works directly with the Ukrainian Red Cross and its local branches to develop social enterprises that respond to the needs of their communities. In 2025, 15 teams completed the REDpreneur Ukraine Master Class.
To understand what this support looks like in practice, RSI spoke with three Ukrainian Red Cross teams that took part in REDpreneur Ukraine: RedCross Kids Camp in Korosten, The Sleep Workshop in Ruzhyn and The Touch of Care in Zvyagel. Three social enterprises, three different local needs, and one shared ambition: to build solutions that are useful to their communities and designed to last.
1. To start, could you introduce your social enterprise and tell us what makes it different?
RedCross Kids Camp — Korosten (RKC): RedCross Kids Camp is a socio-educational day camp for children aged 8 to 14. It combines recreational activities, first aid training, life skills development and psychosocial support. What makes it distinctive is its combination of a safe environment, hands-on learning and screen-free activities that encourage interaction and support children’s development.
The Sleep Workshop — Ruzhyn (SW): The Sleep Workshop is a social enterprise producing bed linen, combining high-quality production with a social mission. What makes it distinctive is its focus on creating employment opportunities for vulnerable people, supporting both their social inclusion and economic independence.
The Touch of Care — Zvyagel (TC): The Touch of Care is a studio offering massage and care services focused on recovery, beauty and overall well-being. The project brings together physical and psychological well-being, creating a space that promotes a holistic approach to wellness.
2. How did it feel to reach the REDpreneur Ukraine final?
RKC: Reaching the final is an important recognition of the work carried out and the idea championed by the team. The support received by RedCross Kids Camp is also a source of motivation to continue developing the project and ensure the quality of its implementation.
SW: For the team, reaching this stage confirms that they are moving in the right direction. It reflects their collective work, their belief in the idea and their shared determination to create positive change for the community. It is also an additional source of motivation to continue improving the project and strengthen its long-term sustainability.
TC: The team takes a more nuanced view of this achievement: reaching an important milestone can also bring new doubts and questions.
“What matters is not simply winning, but successfully delivering the project and bringing it to the level of a sustainable social enterprise.”
This milestone therefore represents a first victory, but above all a responsibility and the beginning of a new phase for the project.
3. What is the main lesson you have taken away from REDpreneur?
RKC: Beyond the knowledge and practical tools gained through the programme, the main lesson was developing a better understanding of what social entrepreneurship really means: learning how to combine a social mission with an effective approach to project implementation.
SW: Above all, the team realised that a good idea alone is not enough to build a sustainable social enterprise. A clear strategy, sound financial planning and genuine teamwork are equally essential. The programme also showed them the importance of remaining flexible and being able to adapt as the project evolves and grows.
TC: For the team, the key realisation was that a social enterprise must first and foremost start with a real need.
“Before starting to implement an idea, it is essential to clearly identify a real problem within the community. From that problem, you can then build a solution through social entrepreneurship, ensuring that the activity is not only useful, but also genuinely needed and effective.”
4. What are your ambitions for the coming years?
RKC: The team aims to continue developing social entrepreneurship within its organisation, strengthen its financial sustainability and gradually become less dependent on external funding. It also hopes to create and develop new social initiatives that respond to community needs.
SW: The goal now is to expand production and reach new customers, both locally and among businesses. In doing so, the team aims to create more employment opportunities for vulnerable people, strengthen the project’s social and economic sustainability, and develop new product ranges that respond to community needs.
TC: The next steps are to fully roll out the project, create new jobs and ensure the stable operation of the studio. The team also aims to strengthen its partnerships to support the long-term development of the enterprise and increase its social impact.
5. What advice would you give to other volunteers who are considering joining a programme like REDpreneur but are hesitant to take the leap?
RKC: Don’t hesitate to apply. These programmes provide access to knowledge, mentoring and support that can help turn an idea into reality. They can also help participants build confidence and transform a social initiative into an operational project.
SW: Take the first step, even when the road ahead seems difficult. The programme provides experience, knowledge and expert support to help gradually transform an idea into a sustainable social enterprise.
TC: Above all, the team encourages future entrepreneurs to trust their own intuition rather than allowing themselves to be guided solely by the opinions of others:
“If you feel that you have the potential and the strength to act, don’t wait: give it a try and move forward.”
By bringing entrepreneurial thinking into Red Cross teams, REDpreneurUA helps them explore how social value and revenue generation can reinforce one another, turning locally rooted ideas into ventures designed not only to respond to needs, but to sustain themselves over time.
