intombi for girls worldwide. That’s what it says on the intombi website, which I took a closer look at before starting my student internship at intombi. This is how the intombi team formulates its goal of reaching girls across borders. When my internship at intombi started last year, I had the opportunity to help Ukrainian girls gain access to the global intombi community. Open doors and positive inspiration are so valuable for Ukrainian girls in times of war.

intombi for girls worldwide. That’s what it says on the intombi website, which I took a closer look at before starting my student internship at intombi. This is how the intombi team formulates its goal of reaching girls across borders. When my internship at intombi started last year, I had the opportunity to help Ukrainian girls gain access to the global intombi community. Open doors and positive inspiration are so valuable for Ukrainian girls in times of war.

intombi implements its work for girls by cooperating with local organizations. During my internship, I therefore researched non-profit organizations in Ukraine that we could support with intombi. My search criteria for these organizations were that they support girls and young women and help them become more self-confident. The challenges of our time have become so unpredictable that intombi primarily aims to promote girls’ resilience. Furthermore, it was also relevant to consider the problem the organization helps girls with and the changes it wants to achieve. During my research, I finally came across a few organizations that could be a good fit for intombi. Here, I took a closer look at their general organizational purpose and the specific projects they implement it with. The people behind the organizations were also very important to us, because a foundation of trust is needed for cooperation. I was already familiar with the Mascha Foundation, which caught our attention with a tangible project.

The Masha Fund – here you can find support for brave girls

The well-known Ukrainian TV presenter Masha Efrosinina founded the Masha Fund. She is also a United Nations Honorary Goodwill Ambassador for Gender Equality and the Elimination of Violence. She is very well-known among my parents’ generation. In 2020, she founded the non-profit organization “Masha Fund,” whose goal is to help women and children suffering from domestic violence. With the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the fund expanded its activities and launched projects to support affected families. One of these projects is the “Brave” (“Smelaya”) project, which translates as “courageous.” Brave girls—that sounded really good to me.

© Mascha Stiftung, Ukraine

Girls get strong through boxing

I found the “Brave” project the most interesting. I think it’s helpful when girls, especially in light of the war in Ukraine, know how to defend themselves and feel strong. Last year, we finally began exchanging ideas with the team from the Ukrainian organization “Masha.” In the meantime, I had presented their work to the intombi team. We definitely want to make the “Brave” project accessible to even more girls; we all agreed on that.

This project teaches girls aged 12 to 17 how to box and how to share ideas and support one another in a group setting. Through this combination, they learn to defend their boundaries, defend themselves against physical and psychological violence, and overcome their fears. I think this project is important because it helps teenage girls stand up for their boundaries. In a world where many people are confronted with physical and psychological violence, the girls learn how to protect themselves in difficult situations. The project also helps the participating girls overcome their fears and become braver. This helps them develop a healthy self-esteem that will help them in their future.

Wer ist unsere Autorin?

Hello, my name is Uliana, and I’m 18 years old. I’m from Ukraine and moved to Germany three years ago because of the war. I did an internship at intombi one day a week during my final year of school. I stayed and now work on the editorial team of the Girls for Girls online magazine at intombi, continuing to support girls around the world.

The Story of Anna

The stories of girls who participated in the “Brave” project move me deeply. Anna is one of them:

Anna is a teenager from a small town in Ukraine whose life changed dramatically after the start of conflict in the country. She was a quiet and reserved teenager who often struggled to speak her mind and assert herself in school. She often felt intimidated and afraid of standing out. When she learned about the project, she was initially unsure whether to participate. But something inside her told her it was worth a try.

Over the course of the project, Anna learned how to clearly define her boundaries and respectfully defend them. She participated in workshops where she was taught how to remain calm in difficult situations, listen to her intuition, and give clear, confident answers. Step by step, she developed a better understanding of her own strengths and her rights. It was a liberating experience that showed her that she was not helpless, but had the power to stand up for herself.

Anna also learned to overcome her fears and build self-confidence. Through the training in the “Brave” project, she was gradually able to find her own voice and use it without fear. She began to believe in herself and felt that, if necessary, she could help others who found themselves in similar situations. Today, Anna is a role model for other girls in her community. The project has not only helped her become braver but also develop a healthy self-esteem. She knows that she is valuable and has the right to be treated with respect in every situation. The “Brave” project has changed her life and given her the strength to face challenges and look confidently towards the future.

Give girls like Anna a chance!

Thanks to the “Brave” project, Anna was able to overcome her fears, build self-confidence, and become a role model for others. There are many more girls in Ukraine who need this support. With your donation, you help provide them with a safe space where they can grow, learn, and find their own voice. Together, we can give them the strength to face the future with courage.

💙 Every donation counts! Become part of this change.

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