A WOF-UA-Funded Community Space Helps Ukrainians Escape the Realities of War

In the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, an initiative that began as a small nature-inspired store and workshop has grown into a space that plays a meaningful community role amidst the existential crisis facing the country. Founded by Yulia Dub, the initiative was sparked two years ago when she received a mini grant from the Women’s Opportunity Fund (WOF-UA). With a vision of growth and social impact, Yulia used her shop to create nature-inspired gifts while supporting local artisans and planting trees using the business' profits. She named it LIS after the Ukrainian word for “Forest.”

When war displaced thousands and reshaped daily life in Ukraine, Yulia transformed her creative energy into something even more essential: a welcoming space for people to reconnect, reflect and heal. What started as a volunteer effort with friends soon evolved into a cultural hub that now hosts exhibitions, community events and a store showcasing work by artists from the Zakarpattia region.

Today, LIS is more than a space for creativity. It is a movement rooted in local creativity, resilience and community care. As Yulia says, “If this kind of space doesn’t exist, we need to build it ourselves.” Thanks to her initial WOF-UA grant, she did just that, and her forest continues to grow.