Ukraine
The “Friendly Community” project aims to improve the living standards of adults and children with IDP (Internally Displaced Person) status.
The challenge
After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Ukrainians from East and South regions had to move to other regions to save their lives. The government implemented state support for these people, granting them IDP status. The “Friendly Community” project supports IDPs and local people domestically and psychologically via three key activities:
- Sports activities
- Art-therapy classes and workshops and psychologist counselling
- Social services like free washing machines, hairdressing and book-crossing
How we worked together
The main task was to help people to recover after traumatic war experiences and adapt to a new place. Dina Glazunova, local activist and certified psychologist understood which activities could be most efficient and developed the project. In addition, a hub was set up that has become a place of relaxation and safety for many people struggling with the war.
Key results
- 732Training sessions
- 6360Total class-visits
- 1148IDP class-visits
- 145Counselling sessions
“After the war started my family moved. For some time could not find the relevant apartment and moved from place to place. If you have a baby child, you have a big amount of washing. I did it manually, it’s not easy. Later I found out that we, IDPs, could wash our things in the washing machine and -for free!! I also started to attend art-workshops and it was very convenient: while I’m practicing in beadworking, my things have being washed! It’s so helpful for our family! And I thank a lot to all who invented, implemented and financially support this service and this project”.
– Tetiana, 37, IDP from Kharkiv region
“After staying under occupation (in Zaporizhzhia region) we moved: me and my husband. For a long time, I could not even go out anywhere and was staying “at home”, trying to recover, come down and gain strength after having everything in my life zeroed. Later they invited me to go Nordic walking. That’s it, I thought that would help me to cope with stress, to survive. I went, tried and liked it! I began to go walking regularly. Later on, they entrusted me to lead the whole trainings.
Nowadays our trainings run almost every day for 1,5 hour, when the weather allows. Finally, this year I decided to start studying to become a certified trainer – at the Nordic Walking Federation. So, I’m looking hopefully at my future as I will be able to do entrepreneur activity with the legal certificate“.
– Natalia, 53, IDP
Community investments are our voluntary initiatives that contribute to the long-term common good of local communities and come in addition to efforts made to mitigate or compensate for project-related impacts. We are committed to contributing to the communities in a way that allows them to develop by themselves without becoming dependent on us.