In Ukraine’s mountain communities, social entrepreneurship is often the only path to economic development and preservation of identity.
The Skole region has historically been a place of noble lifestyles: it was home to hunting lodges, the Hredel family’s casino, stables, and developed crafts. Nature, traditions, wooden architecture — all this shaped the unique atmosphere of the region.
Today, local entrepreneurs strive not only to preserve this identity, but to restore it — to modernise it, rethink it and give it a new economic life.
One such entrepreneur is Stepan Ivanochko. His work is not just about business, but about a strategy for change. He combines investments in tourism, culture and the local economy, developing projects that benefit and generate profits for both the community and the investor.
What is social entrepreneurship in practice?
It is a combination of profitable activities with clear responsibility to the local environment:
- creating jobs for mountain residents;
- developing tourism based on historical sites;
- restoring infrastructure that is valuable to the community;
- investing in cultural events and educational formats.
Specific projects: impact at the local level
1. Skolivshchyna Equestrian Club
The Skolivshchyna Equestrian Club project is not just about rebuilding a building. It is about creating a multifunctional space for equestrian tourism, creative residencies, children’s events, and exhibitions. The space brings together residents, tourists, artists, athletes, and families.
2. Hredel Brothers Cultural Centre
Renovation of a well-known building to transform it into a centre for contemporary culture. Planned features: hotel rooms, event space, permanent exhibition, space for residences and offices. This facility has the potential to become a magnet for domestic and international visitors.
3. Art Space in Skole
The art space in Skole is Ukraine’s first immersive centre with local content, where modern multimedia technologies are combined with Ukrainian identity. Here, history, culture and art come to life through light, sound and visual installations, creating a unique cultural magnet for the Carpathians.
The public sector as part of the strategy
Stepan Ivanochko is the co-founder of the Skole Development Office public association. Together with partners and experts, he participates in the formation of local development strategies and the launch of new infrastructure initiatives.
Support role: how and with whom ideas are implemented
In partnership with BIG.U, entrepreneurs receive support at key stages of their project implementation — from idea formation to launch. We work as an analytical and organisational partner, helping to structure the concept, find funding opportunities, and make the project understandable to external stakeholders.
In particular, we provide:
- expertise in developing business models with a social focus;
- consulting on preparing for external financing;
- support in creating basic presentation materials — for donors, partners, and authorities;
- assistance in setting up a systematic approach to developing initiatives.
BIG.U’s focus is not just on supporting individual projects, but on creating conditions in which these projects can operate stably, effectively, and scale over time.
Who can join?
The support model is open to entrepreneurs who:
- work in small communities;
- have ideas with a positive social impact;
- are looking for tools for scaling up, not just survival.
🔗 If you want to find out how we can help, fill out a short form. The team will contact you for an individual consultation.
Looking to the future
Skole has all the prerequisites to become a modern eco-energy and cultural resort in the Carpathians. It is no longer just about remembering the past — it is about actions in the present and plans for decades to come.
