Do you remember the exact moment when life changes so drastically that it becomes impossible to return to your previous self? It was from such a point of no return in 2022 that a new story began for Alla Kalashnikova—a woman whose life was divided into “before” and “after” by the war, forcing her to leave her native Chernihiv and recreate herself anew thousands of kilometers away from home.
Specially for Business Woman magazine, as part of the “Power of a Dream” project by the Portuguese representative office, Alla shared her story—honest, profound, and deeply inspiring, showing that one should never give up under any circumstances.
“Even the most difficult circumstances can become a growth point if you don’t lose the courage to act,” she says.
Before the full-scale invasion, her entire life was inextricably linked with music. As a highest-category bandura teacher at the Chernihiv Music School No. 2 named after Y. Bohoslovsky and the director of the “Nadiya” combined bandura ensemble—strings, stage, creativity, and working with people were her entire universe.
“In 2022, my life, like the lives of millions of Ukrainian women, was divided. The full-scale war forced me to leave Chernihiv—the city where I was born, grew up, and formed as a person,” Alla recalls.
The forced emigration to Portugal became a colossal challenge. Starting everything from absolute zero is a true test of strength. During this time in emigration, Alla went down a difficult path, changing 5 official and 2 unofficial jobs: she worked as a cleaner, a nanny, a waitress, a shop assistant, and even tried her hand as a real estate agent.
“Music, the stage, working with people—all of this was my world. But forced emigration to Portugal changed everything. Starting life from scratch is a big challenge,” she shares.
However, each of these stages did not break her; instead, it taught her remarkable resilience, flexibility, and an unwavering belief in expanding her own capabilities.
“Each of these stages taught me resilience, flexibility, and belief in myself,” Alla says openly.
Her strength of spirit and drive to move forward eventually transformed into her own business—and that is how her signature beauty space, FAINA KRALYA, was born in Portugal. But the momentum did not stop there. Less than a year into her successful business, Alla received a major offer—to become the exclusive distributor of the well-known Ukrainian brand Pelart in Portugal.
“And today, I stand on the threshold of a new professional stage. Emigration taught me the most important thing: regardless of the circumstances, it is crucial to maintain humanity, faith, and inner light. Do not be afraid to try again and again, even if the path is not easy,” the entrepreneur emphasizes.
Today, she confidently moves forward with deep faith—in God, in people, and in her own strength.
“Because even the most difficult circumstances can become a growth point if you don’t lose the courage to act,” Alla concludes.
The story of Alla Kalashnikova became one of the 21 stories in the “Power of a Dream” project—a two-month initiative by the Portuguese representative office. These are not just stories. They are navigations. Roadmaps for those who are tired, stopped, or have lost faith today.
This project is about women who defy challenges. Who fall—and stand back up. Who search—and find. Who build their lives every day, even when it seems that everything is collapsing.
Because the power of a dream is not in words.
The power of a dream is in actions.
Photo: from the archieve of heroine