13 September 2017

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) opened a photo exhibition, Big Results of Small Businesses, to mark the ten-year anniversary of its Micro-Enterprise Development Programme, which seeks to empower migrants and people in need of support. Photojournalist, Volodymyr Shuvayev, portrays the stories of people who have overcome difficulties in their lives, are now more economically independent and have a positive impact on their communities. The exhibit is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“With the support of our donors over the past ten years, IOM has trained more than 9,000 people on self-employment and micro-enterprise development, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), conflict-affected people and trafficking survivors,” said Alessia Schiavon, Senior Programme Coordinator at the IOM Mission in Ukraine. “In addition IOM provided nearly 6,000 programme beneficiaries with grants to start their micro-enterprise or small business or for vocational training. The majority of IOM-supported businesses remain operational and profitable, while creating much needed employment opportunities and providing new services in remote communities,” she added.

The IOM Micro-Enterprise Development Programme encompasses business trainings and small start-up grants for vulnerable populations who have talent and the motivation for entrepreneurship. IOM started implementation of the programme for sustainable reintegration of victims of trafficking (VoTs) into society and prevention of re-trafficking. In 2014, responding to the protracted conflict and crisis in Ukraine, it was adjusted to facilitate integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into host communities.

IOM’s Micro-Enterprise Development Programme has been supported by numerous donors, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Global Affairs Canada, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the European Union, and the Government of Japan.

Big Results of Small Businesses will be on display at America House Kyiv (6, Mykoly Pymonenka Street) until 7 October 2017.

For further information, please contact iomkievcomm@iom.int or call +38044 568 50 15