The story of Samurai and the Center that helped pave the way

When life is divided into “before” and “after,” it is support that transforms a wounded warrior into a leader of a new caliber. Samurai is a war veteran who lost his sight while on a combat mission. But he did not lose himself. His willpower, clarity of thought, and deep understanding remained with him. When war takes away your sight but not your will, inspiring stories are born. Such is the story of a young veteran with the call sign Samurai, who, despite losing his sight in combat, decided not to give up. Not only did he return to civilian life, but he also took the bold step of starting his own business.
One day, he came to the Center for Veteran Support and Social Initiatives - not to ask for help, but with a desire to take action. His dream was clear: to create a business that would not only provide him with stability but also give work to other veterans.
When he turned to the Veterans’ Support and Social Initiatives Center, Samurai received more than just advice - he found a team that believed in him. The Center's experts helped him:
· to develop a business idea,
· to prepare documents for participation in a grant program,
· to pass interviews with granting institutions and justify the social significance of his initiative.
The result was a grant of 1 million hryvnia to implement “The Driver's Way”, a workshop for manufacturing state registration license plates for land transport.
Samurai did not just create a business - he created a space of opportunities for other veterans with disabilities, planning to involve his comrades who are also looking for a new life. His goal is to prove that disability is not a limitation if you have support and faith in what you do.
“I cannot see with my eyes, but I see with my heart. And now I have a job that allows me to move forward. I am grateful to the Center - without them, this would not have happened,” Samurai shares.

Being chosen among many is an honor, but also a responsibility. One of the most unexpected conclusions of our journey is that leadership does not begin with big decisions - it begins with paying attention to the people around you. In the process of implementing the project and running our Center, we realized that technical knowledge is important, but it is the ability to listen, see the potential in others, and be consistent in your values that shapes a true leader.
Another unexpected lesson is not to be afraid to learn from each other, even from the beneficiaries - our war veterans and their families. It is also important to take criticism calmly and learn from competitors.
For those who want to develop their leadership skills, the advice is simple but effective:
Stay curious - ask more questions than you give answers.
Don't be afraid of failure - it shapes character and strengthens strategy.
Be honest with yourself - inner clarity helps you make difficult decisions with dignity.
Seek out communities of like-minded people - it's easier to grow and stay focused together.
Leadership is not about knowing everything. It's about being willing to learn all the time.

The future for us is not just a continuation of our work, but a qualitative leap in the depth of our impact and the expansion of our engagement.
We plan to transform our initiative to support war veterans into a model of university engagement with vulnerable groups that will be scaled up to other regions and countries.
The next step will be to create an Educational Center for Veteran Integration, which will combine training, mentoring, entrepreneurship, and psycho-social support. It will be a space where military experience is transformed into civic leadership.
At the university level, we aim to:
· introduce social entrepreneurship modules into educational programs;
· strengthen partnerships with communities, businesses, and government agencies;
· enhance the role of students in bringing about change through micro-projects and volunteering.
Our team sees itself as a platform for change, where education becomes a tool for rehabilitation, professional fulfillment, and influencing policy. The Triple E Awards are not only a worthy distinction for us, but also confirmation that we are on the right track.
Ahead of us lies work on integrating veterans' experiences into educational environments, new interdisciplinary approaches, and the formation of a culture of support in the academic space.
We believe that universities can be centers of social healing and growth.