Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Steel Magnolias Center
Center for Entrepreneurship and Psychological Resilience Steel Magnolias
The Steel Magnolias Center for Entrepreneurship and Psychological Resilience project is a modern center where flowers and green spaces are grown. The center was created on the basis of the Shepetivka repair and maintenance enterprise and is a greenhouse complex and training center, in particular for internally displaced persons, for psychological rehabilitation through floriculture and greenhouse training.
Ukraine
Local
Shepetivka town, villages of Plesna, Plishchyn, Zhylintsy.
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
2024-08-31
Yes
GIZ
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
The project's goal is to develop entrepreneurial skills and support the psychological stability of the Steel Magnolias Center's participants, and to increase the competitiveness of the Shepetivka Repair and Maintenance Enterprise.
Target groups: internally displaced persons, families of military personnel in need of psychological support and retraining, and employees of the enterprise who have received additional qualifications.
The effectiveness of Steel Magnolias:
📌 40 women have acquired basic knowledge and practical skills for growing and planting plants, including in greenhouse conditions;
The participants learned the basics of landscape design and business organization;
📌 A roadmap for growing flowers in closed grounds in the Shepetivka community "City of Flowers" was prepared;
📌 training modules were filmed with the involvement of experts;
📌 Promoting mental health recovery through techniques used by practicing psychologists.
Thus, during the project implementation, not only the participants of the training courses, who can already work in the field of landscape design, but also the community as a whole benefited from the project. In total, Shepetivka received greenhouses purchased with subsidy funds, and a 270-square-meter stone greenhouse was restored. And these are real jobs and the start of a new career.
Target groups: internally displaced persons, families of military personnel in need of psychological support and retraining, and employees of the enterprise who have received additional qualifications.
The effectiveness of Steel Magnolias:
📌 40 women have acquired basic knowledge and practical skills for growing and planting plants, including in greenhouse conditions;
The participants learned the basics of landscape design and business organization;
📌 A roadmap for growing flowers in closed grounds in the Shepetivka community "City of Flowers" was prepared;
📌 training modules were filmed with the involvement of experts;
📌 Promoting mental health recovery through techniques used by practicing psychologists.
Thus, during the project implementation, not only the participants of the training courses, who can already work in the field of landscape design, but also the community as a whole benefited from the project. In total, Shepetivka received greenhouses purchased with subsidy funds, and a 270-square-meter stone greenhouse was restored. And these are real jobs and the start of a new career.
Psychological resilience
Floriculture
Small-scale economic development
Teplichne gospodarstvo
Community development
"Steel Magnolias" project aims to empower women in the Shepetivka community in Ukraine through entrepreneurship and psychological resilience-building, particularly within the context of the ongoing war. The project's key goals and achievements related to sustainable development are:
1) еconomic еmpowerment: economic opportunities for women in Shepetivka by training them in greenhouse horticulture and business management. This is achieved through practical courses and study trips to successful local nurseries. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
2) сommunity вevelopment: improving the community's landscaping through the cultivation of flowers and plants, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the town. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
3) psychological resilience: psychological support and mental health resources for women, directly addressing the challenges of living under war conditions. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
4) sustainability and environmental benefits: promoting local cultivation of flowers and plants, the project aims to reduce the environmental impact of importing plants from elsewhere. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
1) еconomic еmpowerment: economic opportunities for women in Shepetivka by training them in greenhouse horticulture and business management. This is achieved through practical courses and study trips to successful local nurseries. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
2) сommunity вevelopment: improving the community's landscaping through the cultivation of flowers and plants, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the town. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
3) psychological resilience: psychological support and mental health resources for women, directly addressing the challenges of living under war conditions. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
4) sustainability and environmental benefits: promoting local cultivation of flowers and plants, the project aims to reduce the environmental impact of importing plants from elsewhere. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The main aesthetic effect of the project is the restored flowerbed in the heart of the community. The area that was once just a pasture is now planted with perennials and is called "Revival". The project was carried out by project participants, employees of the utility company, and caring volunteers. Now, when entering the city, we have an extremely beautiful new location that has become the first impression for travelers.
The project did not focus on the topic of inclusiveness directly. But it did ensure equality of rights and opportunities for education and professional development.
The company is actively developing, which means that the seedlings and plants will be used to improve the community's territory, which will have a positive impact on the psycho-emotional state of the residents. It will increase the level of attractiveness of the community and improve its image in the eyes of the residents themselves. Civil society was involved in the following ways: the grant was implemented by the NGO Astar, and the Council of Internally Displaced Persons cooperated at the stage of participant selection.
The NGO ASTAR played a leading role in implementing the project. They consulted with the community and the council, during the project implementation.
The Shepetivka Repair and Maintenance Enterprise became the project implementation site. It houses a greenhouse and a training center.
Shepetivka City Council became a partner in the project, providing co-financing and information support.
Local businesses, such as the "Dubovo-Agro" company and the "Tsykovsky" nursery, provided some degree of support or collaboration. During two study tours to existing greenhouse farms, local businesses shared their experience.
The Shepetivka Repair and Maintenance Enterprise became the project implementation site. It houses a greenhouse and a training center.
Shepetivka City Council became a partner in the project, providing co-financing and information support.
Local businesses, such as the "Dubovo-Agro" company and the "Tsykovsky" nursery, provided some degree of support or collaboration. During two study tours to existing greenhouse farms, local businesses shared their experience.
The Steel Magnolias project combines horticulture and agriculture, business administration, psychology, social sciences/community development, and project management. The project involved collaboration between horticultural experts who provided hands-on training, business coaches who taught participants entrepreneurial skills, psychologists who provided mental health support, and community development specialists who ensured integration into the community. This multidisciplinary approach provided holistic support to address multiple needs, increased the effectiveness of the training, strengthened the long-term sustainability of the project, and ensured its contextual relevance in the socio-political landscape of Shepetivka. The added value lies in this integrated approach, which exceeds the benefits of focusing on a single discipline.
However, the innovative potential of the project lies in its integrated approach - combining gardening training with psychological support and business development - in the context of the challenges of wartime in Ukraine. This integrated approach, which addresses both the economic and psychological needs of women, distinguishes it from projects that focus solely on economic empowerment or psychosocial support in isolation. In addition, the project successfully applies new participatory methods and innovative technologies, which further emphasizes its innovative nature.
The Steel Magnolias project used a mixed-methods approach, combining several elements. First and foremost, a needs assessment that was conducted at the beginning of the project to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by women in Shepetivka. A participatory approach that involved the community in its implementation. Capacity building consisted of developing a training program on gardening, business skills and psychological well-being.
Monitoring and evaluation included mechanisms for monitoring progress, collecting data on outcomes (e.g., women's economic success, improved mental health), and evaluating the effectiveness of project interventions.
The partnership approach involved cooperation with various stakeholders, including local authorities, NGOs, and businesses.
Monitoring and evaluation included mechanisms for monitoring progress, collecting data on outcomes (e.g., women's economic success, improved mental health), and evaluating the effectiveness of project interventions.
The partnership approach involved cooperation with various stakeholders, including local authorities, NGOs, and businesses.
The project has several areas of experience scaling. First of all, a strategic document, the City of Flowers Roadmap, was developed, which formed the basis for the development of the greenhouse sector and was implemented by the local municipality in the Community Development Strategy (decision of January 30, 2025). The project also developed 8 introductory videos on greenhouse and floriculture, as well as doing business. The videos are freely available online.
The Steel Magnolias project, although local to Shepetivka, Ukraine, offers localized solutions to several global problems. It directly addresses gender inequality by empowering women economically and psychologically, provides a model for building resilience in conflict-affected areas (a global issue), indirectly contributes to sustainable development by promoting the cultivation of local plants, includes vital mental health support to counteract the effects of war and economic hardship, and contributes to local economic development by creating income-generating opportunities for women. This demonstrates the effectiveness of context-specific solutions to address widespread global problems.
The results of the project are:
1) one operating greenhouse complex at a municipal enterprise and new jobs
2) one operating training center
3) renovated location in the heart of the community
4) one project graduate started her own greenhouse business - Nova Kvit LLC
5) one project alumna is currently registering the NGO "Steel Magnolias"
6) project alumnae founded a women's psychological support club "Incredible Ukrainians"
7) Shepetivka municipality supplemented the community development strategy
1) one operating greenhouse complex at a municipal enterprise and new jobs
2) one operating training center
3) renovated location in the heart of the community
4) one project graduate started her own greenhouse business - Nova Kvit LLC
5) one project alumna is currently registering the NGO "Steel Magnolias"
6) project alumnae founded a women's psychological support club "Incredible Ukrainians"
7) Shepetivka municipality supplemented the community development strategy
