misto.cafe has announced the winners of its second grant season. This time, they focused on supporting initiatives that promote a culture of self-care and caring for others, and those that raise awareness about physical and mental health.
Financial support will be provided to three public organizations: "Lutsk City Organization Union of ATO soldiers of Volyn," "Volyn Youth Center," and "PRO Women UA." They have six months to implement their ideas.
This season is special for us. It's dedicated to a bright person who, unfortunately, is no longer with us — our colleague and friend Ruvym. We're comforted that the leitmotif 'To Be. To Live. To Care.' resonated with applicants, and almost all projects submitted are related to this theme,"
The initiatives that will receive funding
Lutsk Veteran Business Fair "I Did It — and So Can You!"
As part of the misto.cafe grant program, the Lutsk Сity Organization Union of ATO soldiers of Volyn will receive funding of UAH 90,800. These funds will be used to purchase tables and tents for the Lutsk Veteran Business Fair, which aims to promote social integration and support the sustainable development of the veteran business sector.
According to the project team, in collaboration with the Department for Veterans’ Affairs of the Lutsk City Council, they will be able to regularly organize mobile fairs both within the Lutsk municipal community and beyond.
This grant isn't just financial support; it's a recognition of the importance of our affair. By purchasing tents and tables, we'll be able to make the Lutsk Veteran Business Fair regular, convenient, and mobile. We hope this will strengthen self-employment among veterans, female veterans, and their family members, help them feel community support, find partners, and believe in their own abilities. We believe this is an investment in the sustainable integration of our defenders into peaceful life and the development of small businesses in our community and Ukraine as a whole,"
Social Exhibition-Performance "The Sixth Sense"
The goal of the Volyn Youth Center project is to promote the development of emotional literacy, a sense of unity, and mutual understanding among 60 young people in Lutsk through the organization of 30-minute performance-based emotion painting games.
As a result, the team plans to organize a joint art exhibition of the participants, as well as create a website that will serve as a digital exhibition with scanned works. They receive UAH 48,680 to implement their idea.
We are very excited that our project has been selected. We have a young and energetic team that strives to bring a new perspective on the topic of emotions to Lutsk through educational performances and an art exhibition. Very soon, the youth of our city will be able to meet our team on the streets and become co-creators of a large, vibrant exhibition about emotions within the walls of the Volyn Youth Center,”
United by Movement: A Wellness and Support Program for Families of Military Personnel
The “PRO WOMEN UA” team is receiving UAH 99,754 to create a wellness and support space in Lutsk for families of military personnel and veterans. The initiative includes a series of open training sessions and health-focused meetings that combine physical activity with mental health care.
For three months, participants will meet weekly for training sessions. These will be led by Lutsk instructors and sports clubs, offering everything from yoga and Pilates to light strength exercises adapted for the target group's needs.
In addition to the activities, the program includes meetings with qualified experts in nutrition, oncology, gynecology, neurology, and psychology.
"We know how crucial such gatherings are for families of military personnel, especially when they're held outdoors. Meetings with specialists, live interaction with each other, and physical activity and exercise are exactly what can divert attention from the difficult thoughts and circumstances most of these families find themselves in. We hope as many people as possible will join and take advantage of this opportunity,"
The selection process
On April 15, 2025, misto.cafe announced its second grant season. The application period lasted for a month, during which the team received 10 diverse projects. This time, however, the selection of winners took place according to an updated procedure, including an additional pitching stage. All organizations that passed the technical verification had the opportunity to personally present their ideas to the co-founders of misto.cafe at a general meeting.
The entire selection process took place in stages:
- technical review,
- content evaluation,
- pitching,
- voting at the general meeting,
- negotiation process,
- signing of grant agreements.
After the first season, we realized that not all strong ideas can be fully expressed in a written application. Clarifications often arise that are difficult to anticipate. That's why we introduced pitching, to create a space for direct dialogue between the initiative teams and the grant providers,"
What are grant seasons by misto.cafe
Misto.cafe, a social impact cafe, began its operations in Lutsk in September 2024. It was launched on the initiative of the "Action Algorithm" platform, which coordinates the implementation of grant programs.
The establishment operates under a social entrepreneurship model, where 80% of net profits from its activities are allocated quarterly to fund the grant program and support socially significant projects in the city.
The first grant season launched on January 15, 2025. Since then, six projects have received support. The misto.cafe team emphasizes that following the grant seasons is useful not only for those seeking financial support but also for anyone interested in the supported initiatives. Because all of these projects are about making a social impact.
The project was launched thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that brought together 100 co-founders who made non-refundable financial contributions and united to form "Misto.Cafe" NGO. These co-founders determine the winners of the grant seasons by voting at the organization's general meetings.
