How One Grant Can Change a Life: The Story of “Project 911”

08/ 09/ 2025

Experience of a participant in the L’Oréal Paris Women Entrepreneurs Support Program My name is Viktoriia Hurova, member of the European Business Association and Deputy Head of the Corporate Security Council in Odesa. I would like to share my personal experience of participating in the L’Oréal Paris Women Entrepreneurs Support Program. Last year, more than 1,500 applications from women across Ukraine competed for the opportunity to receive a grant — and my project was among the top ten winners. This became the starting point for launching “Project 911” — an initiative aimed at providing comprehensive protection for women facing domestic violence and creating an effective rapid response system. What did we achieve thanks to the L’Oréal Paris grant? Over the past year, we have implemented a number of important initiatives that are now saving lives and changing destinies: Opening of the 911 Situation Center A 24/7 facility in Odesa and Odesa region that handles emergency calls, coordinates with response services, and provides remote support to survivors. Launch of Specialized Rapid Response Teams Our experts ensure physical protection, deliver first aid, and accompany survivors until specialized services arrive. Building partnerships with charities and NGOs This allowed us to create a comprehensive assistance system where psychological, legal, and physical support are available simultaneously. Direct assistance to over 30 women We provided psychological counseling, legal defense, relocation assistance, and resolution of critical conflict situations. Mission of “Project 911” Our team has created an effective response mechanism that: saves lives; restores women’s sense of safety; brings back inner peace; gives the chance to start a new life without fear. We are not stopping here. Ahead lies the expansion of the project, new partnerships, training programs, and further improvements in both corporate and personal security. Why does this matter for business? Corporate security starts with caring for people. Our experience has shown that supporting such initiatives helps businesses build a strong brand, strengthen their reputation, and become part of a global community that fosters an environment of trust. A call to colleagues in the business community My advice to every woman entrepreneur and to every business: Believe in your idea, even if the path to making it real seems difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask for support — grant programs truly change lives. Seek partners who share your values and are ready to share responsibility. Act today — even the smallest steps bring you closer to great results. I am sincerely grateful to L’Oréal Paris for their trust, financial support, and belief in our project. Thanks to this program, we were able to bring together a team of professionals and launch a mechanism that helps women every day to regain control over their lives.

Experience of a participant in the L’Oréal Paris Women Entrepreneurs Support Program

My name is Viktoriia Hurova, member of the European Business Association and Deputy Head of the Corporate Security Council in Odesa. I would like to share my personal experience of participating in the L’Oréal Paris Women Entrepreneurs Support Program.

Last year, more than 1,500 applications from women across Ukraine competed for the opportunity to receive a grant — and my project was among the top ten winners.

This became the starting point for launching “Project 911” — an initiative aimed at providing comprehensive protection for women facing domestic violence and creating an effective rapid response system.

What did we achieve thanks to the L’Oréal Paris grant?

Over the past year, we have implemented a number of important initiatives that are now saving lives and changing destinies:

Opening of the 911 Situation Center
A 24/7 facility in Odesa and Odesa region that handles emergency calls, coordinates with response services, and provides remote support to survivors.
Launch of Specialized Rapid Response Teams
Our experts ensure physical protection, deliver first aid, and accompany survivors until specialized services arrive.
Building partnerships with charities and NGOs
This allowed us to create a comprehensive assistance system where psychological, legal, and physical support are available simultaneously.
Direct assistance to over 30 women
We provided psychological counseling, legal defense, relocation assistance, and resolution of critical conflict situations.

Mission of “Project 911”

Our team has created an effective response mechanism that:

saves lives;
restores women’s sense of safety;
brings back inner peace;
gives the chance to start a new life without fear.

We are not stopping here. Ahead lies the expansion of the project, new partnerships, training programs, and further improvements in both corporate and personal security.

Why does this matter for business?

Corporate security starts with caring for people.
Our experience has shown that supporting such initiatives helps businesses build a strong brand, strengthen their reputation, and become part of a global community that fosters an environment of trust.

A call to colleagues in the business community

My advice to every woman entrepreneur and to every business:

Believe in your idea, even if the path to making it real seems difficult.
Don’t be afraid to ask for support — grant programs truly change lives.
Seek partners who share your values and are ready to share responsibility.
Act today — even the smallest steps bring you closer to great results.

I am sincerely grateful to L’Oréal Paris for their trust, financial support, and belief in our project. Thanks to this program, we were able to bring together a team of professionals and launch a mechanism that helps women every day to regain control over their lives.