Liubov and Dmytro Kotsur: Turning Skills into a Family Business

“The knowledge gained during the training is very valuable for developing our business and scaling up the farm. In the future, my husband and I plan to provide jobs for people. We dream of living in our country and relying on ourselves,” says Liubov Kotsur from Vinnytsia.

Liubov and her husband Dmytro have shared a passion for machinery and mechanisms since long before the full-scale invasion. Liubov worked in an auto parts store, while Dmytro — known for his “golden hands” — worked with metal as a turner and even made profiles for furniture.

When the war began in February 2022, Dmytro volunteered to defend Ukraine. He returned from the battlefield in spring 2024, determined to work for the good of his family and his country. While rebuilding their lives, the couple decided to start their own business — a small farm growing corn.

For now, most of the fieldwork is done manually, but their goal is to buy agricultural machinery and maintain it themselves. To achieve that, they needed solid technical knowledge of vehicle repair. That’s when Liubov learned about a course for mechanics specializing in the repair of wheeled vehicles. The couple applied — and studied together.

“Now we know many technical nuances,” Liubov says. “We will no longer feel confused in the store when choosing agricultural machinery, as we did before.”

For Dmytro, the training was more than just new skills — it was also a step towards recovery. Constant communication with other participants, engaging with new tasks, and working in the training workshop helped him ease anxiety and regain focus.

Psychological support offered as part of the project was also invaluable. “I’m grateful for this opportunity, because psychological help is very helpful for former military men. Now, my family and I are working hard to develop our business and make big plans — so there’s no time to think about unnecessary things,” he says.

Dmytro is now also taking part in business development training, giving him the tools to turn their ideas into a sustainable enterprise.

The training was conducted under the Training for Change project, implemented by the NGO Ukrainian Professional Development within Skills4Recovery.