Serhiy Lebed, Owner of a gift store, volunteer
Serhiy is from a small town Puliny, not far from the regional capital Zhytomyr. After a cerebral injury, Serhiy was physically disabled. Since then, he has been in need of a wheelchair. Today he runs a gift store called “BRAIS” and works as a club leader at the district counseling center for children with disabilities, teaching them how to use a computer.
He always wanted to be financially independent and dreamed of opening his own business. His friends and relatives became his first clients, recollects Serhiy. Then, he received support from a township council.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a project called “Economic Opportunities for Conflict Victims” in the Zhytomyr Region. Serhiy was invited to it. During the course, he and other participants were taught the specifics of running a business and how to do it properly. Then, he won a grant for equipment. Now, this gift shop is a family-operated business.
Serhiy says that Puliny is a comfortable town. There are ramps almost everywhere and he can go everywhere he needs to. His gift shop is also equipped with a ramp. To make more products, he would like to receive funding for the purchase of additional equipment. One of his goals is also to hire an employee, possibly with a disability, and thus create an accessible workplace in the town.
