Women's Hub "Crossroads". A space for self-development, informal education and career guidance.
Who are we?
Kharkiv NGO "Association in Support of Public Initiatives "ASSA" has been working since 2008. Our projects teach local communities cohesion and civic participation. We spread knowledge of media literacy and critical thinking. We encourage and support women's activism. We have successful experience in developing and implementing youth entrepreneurship programs, helping young people find jobs and conducting job fairs.
What are we doing now?
After the full-scale invasion, we focused on helping women. We conduct free creative art-therapeutic activities. We have a yoga group and playback theater. We provide psychological assistance in the form of consultations and practical training on self-help techniques and providing first aid to oneself and loved ones in psychological crisis situations, etc.
Why are we here?
Despite the fact that the war took men away and Kharkiv desperately needs workers, many women cannot navigate and find their place in new realities. How to choose and master a relevant profession? How not to encounter an unscrupulous employer? Which professions/companies provide online work? It's not always clear what professions exist now, as there are quite attractive professions not from the "standard list", for example, traditionally "male" ones, but they don't require special physical strength. It's also not always easy to find online where and what competitions or free training exist and get into them on time.
Our goal is to raise funds to start a new direction of activity - career guidance. We are not an employment center. Our specialists will help women survive loss and let go of everything lost, believe in their own strength, master new skills. They will provide career advice, inform about opportunities to participate in new educational programs and grants, directly introduce them to potential employers.
We start with these directions:
1. Networking events with potential employers. Company representatives will help understand the specifics of the profession, what it consists of in practice and provide an opportunity to visit production, i.e. women can be "employee for a day".
2. Master classes where specialists present professions. This will help women choose a direction of study and start searching for employment opportunities.
3. Career consultations: career guidance, help with searching and selecting vacancies, grant programs and training.
This will close companies' professional needs, help women develop their skills and believe in themselves, promote Kharkiv's economic development.
What else?
We want to create a safe space, women's hub "Crossroads", gather all activities we currently conduct for women, and add this career direction to them. To implement the project we have vision, specialists, Hub content and motivation to do it. We are raising money for premises arrangement, merchandise production and conducting the first series of events.
