Forum in Kyiv Focused on the Importance of Economic Recovery Initiatives

Enrique Menendez, Director of Projects and Programs at Responsible Citizens NGO, took part in the forum “Why Economic Recovery Initiatives Matter,” held in Kyiv within the framework of the JERU (Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine) project.

How can Ukraine’s economy be rebuilt after the war to ensure everyone has the opportunity to return to a decent life? What role does youth play in post-war community transformation? And why should inclusion be addressed today rather than tomorrow?

These questions were discussed during the forum “Why Economic Recovery Initiatives Matter,” held in Kyiv. The event was organized as part of the JERU (Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine) project, implemented by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ).

Enrique Menendez, Director of Projects and Programs at Responsible Citizens NGO, joined the discussion. Over the past year and a half, the organization’s team has implemented large-scale retraining programs for adults in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions. These initiatives have proven to be an effective support system for communities where people lost their jobs due to the war or relocated from frontline areas and needed to rebuild their lives.

“We saw how many people were left without work and without confidence in the future. But not everyone is ready to start their own business. Often, people simply want a profession that allows them to work, be needed, and earn an income. That’s why we focused on training — helping adults acquire new skills that later enabled them to find jobs. To date, 1,080 participants of our programs have completed training in their chosen specialty, retrained, and are now able to work in their new field. We continue analyzing people’s needs to further develop this direction because we see how it transforms communities,” said Enrique Menendez.

For Responsible Citizens NGO, economic recovery means dignity, opportunity, and the ability of people to rebuild themselves and their communities. Because true recovery always begins with people.

Photo: JERU Project