“We have a common goal that we are moving towards”: representatives of 24 Ukrainian communities visited Lviv to learn from the experience of restoring and developing the city
The Community Recovery Academy project was launched with the support of the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the Mariupol Reborn NGO. Its goal is to prepare municipal teams for the revival of war-affected communities. The program is based on the best practices of post-war territorial development and international best practices, helping communities to form a vision of the future, protect their interests, and implement initiatives at various levels.
One of the key stages of this project was the third module, “Preserving the community, returning people and overcoming social conflicts.” The training participants had the opportunity to learn about approaches to strengthening social cohesion, strategies for returning residents to their hometowns, and methods of dealing with the consequences of traumatic experiences.
Lviv as an example of a cohesive community
The two-day workshop in Lviv became an important stage of the training program. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the city has become a humanitarian hub that has received more than 150,000 IDPs from the temporarily occupied territories and regions where active hostilities are ongoing. Lviv has not only organized effective assistance, but has also become an example of a cohesive community capable of adapting to new challenges.
The first day of the workshop was held at the Mariupol Reborn platform, where participants worked on the topic of human capital audit and HR policy. Olga Doronina, Doctor of Economics, professor and expert in management psychology, spoke about creating an effective HR policy, particularly in the context of working with veterans.
Max Stukalo, a veteran and volunteer, also shared his experience, emphasizing the importance of military adaptation to civilian life. He spoke about the significant differences between the military and civilian spheres: in procedures, communications, and approaches to performing tasks. Max emphasized that effective socialization of veterans requires support from the community so that they can integrate smoothly into civilian society and find their place in it.
Rehabilitation and social integration
The second day of the workshop was devoted to studying the practical experience of Lviv in working with veterans and people affected by war. The participants visited the Unbroken prosthetics center, which manufactures prostheses for military and civilians, and got acquainted with the activities of the Unbroken rehabilitation center, where veterans undergo treatment and rehabilitation.
Oleh Bilyansky, head of the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Center, noted that a large team of specialists works daily at the center, applying a team approach to patient treatment. Currently, each patient at the center receives comprehensive care from 5 to 15 specialists. An individual rehabilitation program is developed for each patient, taking into account all needs and capabilities. The integrated approach involves a whole team of specialists working together at the same level to ensure the best results for each patient.
Would you want such a specialist to work with your mother?
Oleksandr Kobzarev, Executive Director of the Unbroken Foundation, also spoke about the importance of joining forces in working with victims and rebuilding infrastructure. He emphasized that the rehabilitation program in Lviv is a unique example of an effective approach to working with veterans and people in need of assistance after the war.
Veterans in communities: opportunities, not problems
The Lviv City Council is actively implementing strategies to help veterans through its own programs covering various areas of life, from medical services and rehabilitation to employment. Andriy Zholob, head of the Center for Assistance to Defenders in Lviv, noted that cooperation between the community, NGOs and businesses plays an important role in supporting veterans.
Space for reflection and preservation of cultural heritage
In addition to working on municipal recovery strategies, the participants also had the opportunity to spend time reflecting on the cultural dimension of recovery. An important part of this was a meeting with representatives of the City of Mary team, who promote the cultural heritage of Mariupol and talk about the city that is currently under occupation.
Mariia Slyota, project manager, shared the team's achievements and emphasized the importance of preserving cultural identity even in the most difficult times. It is cultural initiatives such as exhibitions, public events, and commemorative events that help not only draw attention to the city's tragedy but also keep Mariupol residents connected to their heritage.
This exchange became a space for reflection and interaction between communities. The workshop participants not only reflected on the importance of cultural memory in the recovery process, but also developed ideas for future exhibition projects that will help preserve the voices of those who were forced to leave their homes and remind them of the cities that need to be returned.
The Community Recovery Academy program helps municipal teams gain the practical knowledge necessary to rebuild their cities. The main outcome of such initiatives is not only the restoration of physical infrastructure, but also social cohesion, which is the basis of the sustainability of each community. An important point in this process is the understanding that each participant must become the voice of their community, defending its interests and contributing to the restoration of the cultural and social fabric that is the basis of the future.
We do not need pity, because our motivation to recover and develop is much stronger than any difficulties
The common goal of rebuilding and strengthening communities unites Ukrainians, helping them to create a sustainable and resilient future.
Community Recovery Academy, founded by the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the NGO Mariupol.Reborn, aims to train municipal managers for the recovery period. The project is being implemented with the support of the UK Government under the UK International Development program and the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine) in partnership with Metinvest and SCM. The educational partners of the project are Metinvest Polytechnic and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
