Voices of Donetsk Region: Partnership for Community Support

Thousands of residents of Donetsk region were forced to leave their homes due to the security situation. In other regions of Ukraine, they need not only basic assistance but also opportunities to preserve their identity, participate in cultural and educational life, and access services for children and families. To meet these needs, a Network of Civil Society Organizations of Donetsk region is being established, aimed at uniting the efforts of communities, authorities, and civic initiatives.

The Partnership and Cooperation Forum “Voices of Donetsk Region” has become an important platform for discussing these challenges, presenting the Network’s Roadmap, and developing joint solutions.

Oksana Ivatina, regional coordinator of NGO “Responsible Citizens” in Donetsk region, joined the forum, sharing the organization’s practical experience in supporting families with children during relocation:
“Child-friendly spaces that operated in Donetsk region have proven their effectiveness and remain in high demand. Despite the evacuation of psychosocial support centers, we continue supporting families through mobile teams, ensuring continuity of services.”

The importance of synergy between civil society organizations and local authorities was particularly emphasized. The cooperation between “Responsible Citizens” and Myrnohrad community demonstrated how coordinated actions help maintain the sustainability of assistance:
“After the security situation worsened, we supported the evacuation of families with children and provided their accompaniment to Tsarychanska community in Dnipropetrovsk region, where a mobile team was relocated together with the necessary resources. Considering the challenges, we are ready to apply this approach in the future and transfer Child-Friendly Spaces to safer regions,” added Oksana Ivatina.

The forum became another step in strengthening partnerships that help Donetsk communities remain united even in forced relocation and jointly build the region’s future.