Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we introduce to the community another story of resilience and humanity of the Ukrainian entrepreneurs.

Denys Azimov, the founder and director of the Confectionery company Mon Ami, started his business in Dnipro in 2012 out of the desire to make delicious, and what is more important – natural, sweets for his daughters.

The startup capital for the future confectionery was 3$ – a purchase of a hand mixer. In ten years, the path from cooking sweets at home for the kids to working at a high technology production complex and confectionery shops at the best shopping centers has been passed. But on the 24th of February the war started… After the russian invasion, the company had to suspend work because of the fact that the majority of the employees had left the country.

Denys filled out the application form for participation in the project out of interest, without expecting any help, his way in business he had to make on his own.

Thanks to the project, Denys Azimov was able to choose the region for relocation of his business, adapt the business model, conduct the analysis of the value offer, SWOT-analysis, prepare for the presentation of the company for partners and donor organizations, and furthermore, he received some practical help in communication with the representatives of the Lviv Regional State Administration.

Today, Denys Azimov is well aware of the current support programs for domestic business by the government, international organizations, as well as regional programs. The confectionery company Mon Ami is being relocated to Lviv and is already a member of the regional support program for relocated business.

During the work with his consultant and mentor Natalia Kononovych, Denys Azimov has received one more result which is significant both for him and for the company.

Since it was set up, in the Mon Ami company work places for persons with special needs are created – people with hearing impairment raging in age from 18 to 60 are taught and employed.

“Thanks to the project, the global social mission of the company has been revealed, which we did not consider any special before. We have decided to continue working in the social direction: training, consulting and employing physically impaired people and people with hearing impairment. I started working in the project only telling about exclusive pastry, natural ingredients and special recipes. However now I realize that I possess a great experience of creating jobs, proper work conditions and realizing potential of people with disabilities. I make every effort for my team to work all together again,” – says Denys Azimov.

The founder of the Mon Ami “inherited” the ability to interact and willing to care for people with special needs. Denys’s father was a coach and a headmaster of a sports school, and his mom was an athletics coach. Denys himself graduated from the college of Olympic reserve and University of Physical Education and Sport. He had to spend his teen years with his parents at Artek, as his parents were the organizers and judges of a children competition “Believe in yourself” for kids and adolescents with disabilities. Denys made many new friends there, and among them there were a few hearing-impaired guys.

“I have never thought of their “limited ability”, I simply did not notice it. And we have never had any difficulties in communication. Smiles, kind gestures, handshakes and friendly embraces are the same in all languages and are understood by everyone. I have never considered them to be “limited”, except that limited in empathy, assistance and understanding from others,” – that was entrepreneur’s answer to his consultant’s question about how he had come up with the idea to employ people with disabilities.

To get his first employees, 10 years ago, Denys contacted with his acquaintance, who worked as a teacher in a boarding school for hearing-impaired children. He asked her to recommend the Mon Ami confectionery to school’s graduated students.

“Today, creating work places for people with special needs is not just a subject of social responsibility of business and consultants. We live in a period when the reformation of the employment market is urgently required. Preparing business for working when the number of people with disabilities is increasing – is a huge part of the economy of recovery of Ukraine. In this direction, the success will depend on how the experience of such entrepreneurs as Denys Azimov is taken into account. After all, his practice is proven, systematized and organic,” – pointed out Natalia Kononovych.

Before the 24th of February this year, 4 girls with disabilities worked in the Mon Ami company. They have been evacuated and at the moment live abroad. Each new confectionery is able to ensure job for 4-6 people with disabilities.

“Apparently, in the first place, I was in need for some psychological support. Natalia assisted me not only with strategic planning and business relocation, but also to revive my belief in myself and my, as it turned out, socially significant and good deed. I am extremely grateful to Natalia and the CMC-Ukraine community for the support, faith in me and my company. I am looking forward to further cooperation and support in Ukrainian business development,” – Denys Azimov sincerely shared his impression from the project.

The project “Business Development Services Provided to Ukrainian MSME in crisis due to the ongoing war”, which is realized by CMC–Ukraine together with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with the support of Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office and National Platform Diia.Business, is finished.

Wait for some new stories!