VETERANS FUTURE FORUM: WORK. BUSINESS. COMMUNITIES

VETERANS FUTURE FORUM: WORK. BUSINESS. COMMUNITIES is the first open platform of the veteran economy, initiated by the Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation to strengthen dialogue between veterans, women veterans, business, communities, public authorities, educational institutions, civil society and partners.

The Forum took place on 15 April 2026 in Chernivtsi, in the Marble Hall of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The event brought together over 250 participants and became a space for discussing practical solutions in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, professional adaptation and the economic integration of veterans and women veterans in communities.

The Forum aimed to demonstrate that the veteran economy is already taking shape in Ukraine through specific businesses, professional pathways, educational opportunities, partnerships and new approaches to cooperation between veterans, business and communities.

Purpose of the Forum

The purpose of VETERANS FUTURE FORUM was to create an open platform for dialogue, exchange of experience and the search for practical solutions that support the social and economic integration of veterans and women veterans after military service.

The Forum focused on several key issues:

• how veterans and women veterans can apply their experience in civilian life;
• what opportunities for employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship already exist;
• how business can better understand veteran experience and work with people returning from war;
• what role communities, public authorities, educational institutions and civil society should play;
• how to build sustainable partnerships around the veteran economy.

Target Audience

The Forum was attended by:

• veterans and women veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war;
• veterans and women veterans who already run their own businesses or plan to start one;
• family members of veterans and women veterans;
• representatives of small and medium-sized businesses;
• employers and HR specialists;
• representatives of local self-government bodies and public authorities;
• educational institutions, employment centres, civil society and veteran organizations;
• partners, donors, media and other stakeholders.

Key Components of the Forum

Opening of the Forum and welcoming remarks from partners. Participants had the opportunity to hear the views of representatives of public authorities, the university, civil society and partner organizations on the importance of developing the veteran economy.

Speeches by veterans and opinion leaders. Speakers shared their personal experiences of returning to civilian life, developing businesses, professional self-realization, working with veteran communities and creating new opportunities after service.

Panel discussions. The Forum included discussions on the role of veterans and women veterans in the economy, employment, HR approaches, the development of veteran entrepreneurship, investment in veteran potential and the role of communities in supporting reintegration.

Veteran Business Expo. A separate space of the Forum was dedicated to an exhibition area for veteran businesses, where veterans, women veterans and members of their families presented their own businesses, products and services. It became a space for live communication, networking, exchange of contacts, first agreements and a practical demonstration of what veteran entrepreneurship looks like.

Networking and partnership interaction. The Forum created conditions for direct dialogue between veterans, business, communities, employment centres, educational institutions, civil society organizations and potential partners.

Main Results of the Forum

VETERANS FUTURE FORUM brought together over 300 participants and became one of the first open platforms in Ukraine dedicated specifically to the topic of the veteran economy.

The Forum showed that veterans and women veterans are already actively participating in the economic life of communities: they are starting their own businesses, creating jobs, studying, changing professional pathways, working in business, civil society, education and in the field of supporting other veterans.

During the panel discussions, participants addressed practical challenges faced by veterans and women veterans after service: job search, adaptation to the civilian labour market, the need for clear educational opportunities, access to financing, development of business ideas, communication with employers and support for families.

Special attention was paid to the role of business. The Forum emphasized that the integration of veterans and women veterans into the labour market requires not only vacancies, but also a deeper understanding of veteran experience, changes in communication approaches, adaptation of HR processes and readiness to see veterans as people with strong managerial, organizational, leadership and crisis-response competencies.

An important part of the Forum was the Veteran Business Expo, where veteran businesses were presented not as an abstract idea, but through real people, their work, products, stories and solutions. For some participants, it was an opportunity to present their business publicly for the first time; for others, it was a chance to expand their network, find new clients, partners or support for further development.

The Forum also strengthened partnerships between civil society, local authorities, the university, employment centres, veteran organizations and business. The event confirmed that the development of the veteran economy requires not separate and fragmented initiatives, but systematic cooperation between different stakeholders.

Significance of the Forum

VETERANS FUTURE FORUM became not only an event, but also an important step towards forming an environment in which veteran experience is recognized as a resource for the development of communities, business and the country.

The Forum showed that the economic integration of veterans and women veterans is not only a matter of employment or starting a business. It is also about dignity, trust, returning to an active role in the community, restoring social connections and creating opportunities for self-realization after the war.

The event demonstrated the need for further development of such platforms, where veterans, women veterans, business, communities, public authorities, educational institutions and civil society can not only discuss challenges, but also jointly seek solutions.

Partners and Co-organizers

The Forum took place with the participation and support of partners, public authorities, educational institutions, civil society and veteran organizations.

Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University acted as a co-organizer of the Forum.

Representatives of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, Chernivtsi Regional Council, Chernivtsi City Council, Chernivtsi Regional Employment Centre, veteran organizations, business, educational institutions, civil society and partner initiatives contributed to the preparation and implementation of the Forum.

The Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation expresses its gratitude to all partners, speakers, participants and guests for their trust, openness to cooperation and contribution to the development of dialogue on the veteran economy in Ukraine.