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Welcome to the USAID Regional Mission in Ukraine
Providing Development Assistance in the Region Since 1992
Since 1992, the USAID Regional Mission to Ukraine,
Moldova, and Belarus has
worked with government, non-governmental organizations, and implementing partners,
to further the processes of democratic development, economic restructuring and
social sector reform in the region.
Business Training Helped Ukrainian Woman Make Her Dream Come True
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 | | Victoria Nikitina in her mini-bakery Doctor Bread |
Victoria Nikitina worked as a processing engineer of bakery production at a state baker’s plant for 20 years until she saw a newspaper announcement about business training. "Having work at a baker’s plant, I dreamed about producing healthy food, particularly bread. The idea was very exciting, but at that time I had neither means and nor business knowledge," recalls Nikitina.
Nikitina saw that announcement as her chance to get business knowledge, and she decided to give it a try. While studying at the business training, she understood that a person’s motivation is a key to success. "Upon graduation, I got confidence. I found a possibility to realize my plan," says Nikitina, "and decided to take two-month training at the USAID-supported Women’s Business Support Center (WBSC) in Donetsk." At the WBSC Nikitina got knowledge on marketing, management and business management; studying at the center has changed her life totally.
Right after training completion in July 2003, Nikitina was registered as an entrepreneur. Within only one year, not only she created a successful mini-bakery Doctor Bread with four job places, but she is already looking to expand.
"Our bakery makes 150-200 kg of bread daily. There are three kinds of bread and roll in our assortment. Our bread production is dietary, and I am working on introducing new kinds of bread," says Nikitina in her mini-bakery’s workshop. "In the future, I would like to expand to producing pastry."
The demand for Nikitina’s bakery products is exceeding her current capacity, therefore she is planning to rent additional premises in autumn and hire eight more bakers. The new premises and equipment she will rent with buyout. That’s why her main task now is to find the investment capital.
"The training at the business center gave me a powerful incentive to move forward. Thanks to the center I understood that I can make my dream come true," remarks Nikitina.
Nikitina is also planning to continue learning more about healthy bread production. She wants to study the technology of bread for people with special dietary needs at the Kyiv Food University.
"To get flour - you need to mill the grain. To achieve something in your life - you have to give it a try and just do it," advises Nikitina Ukrainian women.
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