Kyiv (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – With support from the European, UNDP and UNFPA, a Community Resilience Centre was unlocked in Nizhyn, Ukraine.
In Nizhyn, Chernihiv Oblast, the “Place of Strength” Community Resilience Centre has been established, with generous funding from the European Union (EU). The newly built centre is an adaptive and inclusive space that will bring the community together to support social capital and support recovery and development.
How will the Centre support youth and families in Nizhyn?
The Centre will carry seminars and training sessions aimed at improving resilience and improving mental health, with a particular emphasis on youth and families impacted by the war. These activities will deliver support to families who have undergone separation, loss or forced displacement, enabling them to adapt to new living conditions.
What activities will the Community Resilience Centre offer?
The Centre will also function as a hub for initiatives intended to improve community security and environmental awareness. Additionally, young people will have the chance to participate in training on building healthy connections and in day camps, where they will work through war-related traumatic incidents and develop essential life skills. The Centre will promote activities designed to support connections between local and displaced youth, helping their integration and the development of youth leadership, and heightening mutual understanding within the community.
Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stressed that proactive communities are the ambitious force behind effective and inclusive recovery. “We are convinced that meaningful and impactful reconstruction starts at the local level, as communities understand best their own needs, challenges and opportunities,” Mr Schleuning said. “The opening of this Resilience Centre is a great example of how a strong local initiative can amplify socially significant changes.”
What is the total cost of the Resilience Centre project?
The total expense of the implemented endeavour amounted to over US$125,000. UNDP assisted with the acquisition of technical equipment to equip the Centre’s facilities, contributed to the piece focused on fostering a security culture among youth, and included environmental safety in the Centre’s model. UNFPA funded the initiative by conducting thematic training on resilience development, creating healthy relationships, and youth leadership.
The “Place of Strength” Resilience Centre in Nizhyn was an endeavour of the NGO “Fishermen’s Club of Ukraine – UA Fishing Club” and the NGO “Initiative Youth Laboratory,” with backing from UNFPA and UNDP under the “EU4Recovery – Empowering Communities in Ukraine” project, with monetary support from the European Union.
