Information agency Interfax-Ukraine and the East Europe Foundation are initiating a joint special project called “Dosvid hromad” (Community Experience) about adaptation and integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The project oversees the publication of the Interfax-Ukraine agency's recources of interviews and videos with the mayors of four Ukrainian cities - Yuriy Bova (Trostianets), Yana Litvinova (Starobilsk), Taras Kuchma (Drogobych) and Andriy Zalivskyi (Chervonograd). The discussion is about the challenges, communication with displaced people, cooperation with relocated businesses and partner communities. At the same time, the head of the Starobil city military administration, Yana Litvinova, will share her own experience of being under Russian occupation, moving to another city as an IDP, and managing the community under evacuation conditions.

It is possible to familiarize oneself with the tools that communities use to establish interaction with internally displaced persons in the free online course “Adaptation and integration of IDPs: experience and opportunities” on the “Zrozumilo!” online educational platform, which is due for release in July 2023. The experience of the previously mentioned mayors shows that these tools are effective.

The online course is prepared within the framework of the Stiykist’ Programme which is implemented by East Europe Foundation within a consortium of non-governmental organisations led by ERIM (Equal Rights and Independent Media, France) in partnership with Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights House Tbilisi, the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, and funded by the European Union.

Over the course of the year, within the framework of the Stiykist’ Programme, the Foundation worked with communities "in the field": held a number of online and offline workshops, where common problems were identified and ways to solve them were proposed. Workshop participants focused on common challenges facing their own communities. In particular, they concluded that the adaptation of IDPs will be considered successful when the new residents become members of the community, when they become engaged in fully and, ultimately, are able earn and sustain themselves independently. People should not live in expectation, but feel needed.

Migration of the population has become one of the substancial challenges for Ukrainian communities from the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Residents of cities that  the frontline areas began to seek refuge in safer regions of the country.

“Within this informational project, just as in the online course, which will soon be released on “Zrozumilo!”, we wanted to collect the valuable experience of heads of communities, which may beneficial to their colleagues, the representatives of the public sector,  and administrators of various levels. Ultimately, the great war has led to unprecedented challenges for everyone without exception. Occasionally the experience of overcoming problems in one area can lead to finding a solution in another area,” says Victor Liakh, president of East Europe Foundation.

Coming soon, you can read interviews with city mayors and take advantage of their experience and for an opportunity for a high-quality and affordable education.