VIDNOVA: investing in the future of youth and community development

Previous experience working in communities

Thanks to the support of various organisations, including ours, the city of Kolomyia in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast already has a space to conduct educational activities for children, pensioners, and IDPs. It also organises art therapy sessions for veterans. Residents find these experiences compelling and now actively initiate projects to develop their community.

"The more such spaces there are, the more cohesion there is in the community. Only together, interacting with all age groups and segments of the population, can we achieve real change and find new approaches to developing our communities," says Mariana Kodina, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism at Kolomyia City Council.

Positive changes in Kalush and Tlumach

The VIDNOVA project provides grants for community initiatives. When we announced the competition, the Plast scouting organisation building in Kalush needed repair.

"We affectionately call our building home. Of course, we want it to be cosy and warm. That's why repairing and installing new windows is the most urgent need. We did not believe we could do it right when we heard about the grant opportunity. Still, the perseverance of our children inspired everyone," recalls Olha Novokhatska, a member of the organisation. 

Solomiia, 16, was the inspiration behind the initiative. She wrote a grant for the first time in her life and proved that young people can generate ideas and successfully implement them. Thanks to the funding, the Kalush Plast team improved and equipped the space where more than 120 children receive training.

"I realised we can implement many things because we want to develop. I wrote the grant application, but I didn't believe until the very end that we would get the money for new windows, a table-tennis table, and classroom furniture," says Solomiia. 

The Tlumatska Palitra Creative Association also received a grant to improve the area around the Schoolboys’ House, which more than 500 children attend. They estimated the cost of the work to be over UAH 200,000, but the activists found a solution. Soon, the children will have a safe and comfortable space for play and recreation. 

Svitlana Fedoryshyn, the head of the association, explains, "Through creativity, joint workshops, and learning about local crafts, children and adults better understand each other and unite as a community. In this way, communities preserve and promote traditional crafts and create new opportunities for intergenerational interaction."

Partnership, training, and strategic planning

VIDNOVA is not only about funding but also about training and advisory support for participants. Each project partner has its specialisation. The Legal Development Network helps communities with legal issues, strategic planning, and grant applications. Stabilisation Support Services focuses on working with youth and internally displaced persons and providing psychological support. At the same time, we organise large-scale projects and strengthen advocacy at the national level.

Timur Kanataev, programme director of our partner organisation, Legal Development Network, says, "If a community does not have a strategy, it will not be able to attract significant funding and develop. The European community wants to see our clear understanding of future plans and long-term projects."

Regional development and international cooperation

The participation of communities in international programmes and projects like RESTORE can be a driving force for local economic development, says Tetiana Zbyrak, acting director of the Regional Development Agency in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.

Tetiana says, "Such projects help communities see new opportunities, even despite the challenges of war. Real-life cases show that communities can succeed even now if they have a plan and support. Our role is to help them find this vector of development."

Internally displaced persons feel supported and integrate

One of the priorities of VIDNOVA is the integration of people who were forced to leave their homes because of the war. Our assistance includes humanitarian aid, finding temporary housing, and other long-term support mechanisms such as active involvement in community life. This approach helps people who were just guests to adapt more quickly, find friends, and feel part of a new environment. 

"In my opinion, this is the best way to help IDPs adapt to a new place. This way, they do not feel alone in their needs but understand that the community is ready to help them in any situation," says Tetiana Zhuk, a member of the IDP Council at Kalush City Council.

The result: a story of community strength and unity

These successfully implemented initiatives prove that communities can survive and develop even in difficult times. These gradual steps, thanks to the joint efforts of government agencies, the private sector, and international partners, are laying the foundation for the sustainable recovery of Ukraine.

"It is important for us to make our dreams come true through grants, training, and the opportunity to discuss ideas openly to help our community and the entire country change," sums up Tetiana Lysychenko, Area Manager at People in Need.