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From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainians began to work together to help each other and provide assistance those who need it the most. First of all, housing, because people were left without a roof over their heads, their houses were cynically and ruthlessly destroyed by the invaders.
This is how the Domivka” project appeared – it is being implemented in cooperation with the Ukrainian Educational Platform NGO and the Legal Development Network public union. Caring Ukrainians came together to ensure decent living conditions and proper integration into host societies for people from the affected regions.
Channel 24 talked to Marianna Bilyk– Head of the Society for the Family program of the BO “Ukrainian Educational Platform”, and Vitaly Okhrimenko – Program Director of the Legal Development Network. We asked them more about “Domivki”, the first results of the project and plans for the future.
“Domivka” is a place where a person can fully integrate into the community
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The Domivka project is very important for Ukrainians. When and how did the idea of its creation appear?
Marianna Bilyk:This happened in April. Maybe even at the end of March. People lost their homes, their homes were destroyed. We understood that short-term housing for Ukrainians from the affected communities really does not solve the global problem. And since one of the main values in the Ukrainian educational platform is respect for the dignity of a person, we realized that we cannot afford to settle in schools, gyms or other places for short-term residence for a long time. Yes, and even a temporary shelter – it is for a few days, and then people still need normal housing.
So the idea was born in that hot period. It was the time of the largest flow of people from the eastern, southern and northern regions of Ukraine. I will also give due attention to the Legal Development Network. Then we actively communicated about this idea. And they already had a start in the Hive of Meanings initiative. They already had certain opinions on how to organize medium-term housing.
In such cooperation, this idea was born. But the bottom line is that the project “Domivka” began only with the idea of housing, but moved into something more. Because this is not a shelter, not a shelter, but a place where a person can integrate into the community.
Vitaly Okhrimenko:The “Domivka” project helped a lot to unite and concentrate those other resources that were owned, in particular, by our organization as the Legal Development Network. We realized that integrated services and integrated approaches are required. After all, people need to be settled in communities so that they are really 100% integrated there. To do this, Ukrainians must be able to live in a decent house, pay for it. Have access to education, medicine, social circle and self-realization.
The first Domivka opened in Sokalshchyna. 20 mothers with children have already found shelter there. Can you tell us more about how you prepared for this? What was the path from idea to discovery?
Marianna Bilyk: We opened the first Domivka on August 12 in Sokal, in the Lviv region. We actively cooperated with the BO “Caritas” – Sokal. The place where it opened is really very no coincidence. For until February 24, we had experience of working with Sokal in the Good Community project, within which we create and develop social services in territorial communities.
They had a strategy for developing social work in their society. Accordingly, they were the first to find a room that could be equipped as a “Domivka”. We had one big anonymous donor who paid for the entire renovation.
There were also patrons who reimbursed the cost of furniture. The purchase of everything necessary, repair and arrangement lasted about 2 months. BO “Fund House of Ronald McDonald in Ukraine” financed the arrangement of the children's room. Therefore, this “Domіvtsi” already has a ready-made children's room with a dry pool and a slide. There is also a place with a library where children can come to have fun.
This is what a room for children looks like/Photo by the Ukrainian Educational Platform
This is the whole essence of “Domivka” – so that it is not a place where people just live, but a place where the inhabitants of the community, their children come, and where Ukrainians can integrate into the community and feel involved, belonging to it.
How were the people chosen? Now Sokal is doing it. They take only families with children, in particular, mothers who raise children on their own. Mostly those who lived in the community in schools or some other temporary shelter. The main point in the selection is children and age.There are plans to open 6 such “Domivok”
How many “Domivok” are operating now? And what are the long-term plans for the number of people who can be helped?
Marianna Bilyk: Domivka is already operating in the urban-type settlement of Stebnik. There we only add, strengthen the work of an already finished shelter. And what is important – very good relations have developed in Stebnik between the director of the lyceum and the people who come. We want to open 6 “Domivok” for starters.
We already have locations where they will potentially work. Our target is 500 people, whom we must shelter as part of the Domivka project.
Vitaly Okhrimenko:If we talk about the chaotic settlement in the communities in which we live, I can say that more than 510 families and more than 1,500 people have already found a home, but not in shelters, but precisely among caring people. These are great features. In our ideal picture, we would like as few people as possible to live in our comfortable homes.
After all, a person and a family must integrate into society, get comfortable. And at the same time have the desire and ability to find their own housing. And comfortable “Domivki” – as a place where you can ensure a quick settlement, so that the family stabilizes – is a necessary link in a broader context of work.
In “Domivtsi” there is everything for a comfortable stay for families
Tell us, please, about the arrangement of these “Domіvok”. Can people from the affected regions, who have literally lost everything, live comfortably there?
Marianna Bilyk: There are several accents, but there is no stable vision of one “Domivka” that it should be exactly like this everywhere. After all, the needs of communities and people are different. We understand this, we are open to it and ready to adapt. Of course, the priority is to have a corner where children can play. Something akin to what was created in Sokal.
The children's corner in Domivtsi is one of the priorities/Photo by the Ukrainian Educational Platform
Children who came here from the affected communities have already gone to school. And many of them remain in online learning, because they want to be involved in their school, it is important for them. Therefore, our main focus is a place where you can learn and also play. This is a safe place to live. This is a separate family room. Be sure to equip it with beds, a table, and other furniture.
Of course, the kitchen is mostly shared, because of the possibilities of the premises. And also a shared laundry. At the same time, it is very important for us that there is also a room where various specialists can come and consult, such as a psychologist, a social work specialist or our mobile team. There should definitely be a separate room for this – to ensure privacy and quality work.
Domivtsi has a modern and functional kitchen/Photo by the Ukrainian Educational Platform
Ukrainian homeowners can join the project
You are proposing to join the project to homeowners who are ready to provide it free of charge or for rent to Ukrainians from the affected regions.
Marianna Bilyk:On the pages of the Ukrainian Educational Platform and the Legal Development Network there is information on how you can register your apartment and submit it to the use of the family. The length of stay is determined by the owner himself, we have no influence on this. We make sure that an agreement is signed between the family providing the apartment and the one who moves into it. Accordingly, we can find the family most in need of this accommodation and provide coordination.
Important! If you want to offer your accommodation as a shelter for people from affected communities, fill out the form here.< p>Vitaly Okhrimenko:If you look at the list of needs of people from the affected communities, now they call the first circle of communication. That is, they say they do not feel at home. After all, their home is their neighbors, acquaintances.
In fact, a person receives not just housing, but an integrated approach that helps him integrate into society?
< strong>Vitaly Okhrimenko:Yes. We want the communities in which Domivki and Vuliki Zmistiv work to be attractive in order to quickly settle and adapt. And when the victory comes, so that each of these families will have a very difficult choice – to stay or go home. For if we really provide a high degree of integration, this choice will be very difficult. And again, we think it strengthens our society.
When you realize that your home is not in a specific locality – in the Center, East, West, North or South. And when you have many places where you have many friends who are ready to accept you, support you. This is about making Ukraine monolithic, strong, united.
What we now want to make more massive is employment. We already have 6 communities in which there can be a settlement through “Domivka” – 100 conditional rooms.
Bedroom in “Domivtsi”/Photo by the Ukrainian Educational Platform
But first we want these people who decide to evacuate, to ask what their specialization is, whether they need a job. And start looking for a job first. Finding her, already help with the search for housing. Because most of those left in the war zone say that they simply have nowhere to run, they are not ready to go into the unknown.
“People are incredible, they overcome obstacles and create an environment “
Everyone comes to Domivka with their own story. Which one touched or amazed you the most?
Vitaly Okhrimenko: There is a story an elementary school teacher with 3 children, who came to Delyatyn and volunteers at a local school. She could not be hired, but she could not help but work with children. Accordingly, in the format of extracurricular circles, she joined in helping children – both local and those who came from the affected communities.
Another interesting story about an entrepreneur from Irpin,which had 2 stores in its hometown, both destroyed. She actually lost everything. She moved with the children to the countryside, made repairs to the owner who sheltered them, bought firewood and prepared for the winter. She organized leisure activities for children – her own and those living there.
They did it all and so: “What's next?”. There was only one store in the entire village where she now lives. The local did not want to hire her at first, but this woman convinced him to give her a month of probation. Then she offered a different assortment – she talked with people about what they needed. Residents even from other villages began to come, this store began to compete with others. After that, the owner offered her to become a co-owner or director of the store.
She refused. Because, they say, then she will have to stay, and she plans to return to Irpen when the situation becomes safer. An incredible woman who never lost faith in herself and others.
Such incredible people!
“Host communities have the chance to reach a whole new level”
That is, this woman actually creates and improves the environment she came to.
Vitaly Okhrimenko:Yes, I would not ask the question how to help people who come from affected communities. I would say how not to miss this chance, this potential that they have. In Kolomyia, I constantly repeated one phrase: “You have never had so many highly qualified people with capital, businesses, connections.” People have a chance to expand their understanding of the business and actually find these people. They will give more than they can receive. And these people need to be integrated. This is a chance for communities hosting Ukrainians from the East, North or South to reach a whole new level.
Marianna Bilyk:I would also very much like to point out that we should not position our host societies as those who help. We just have to create the conditions and environment in which Ukrainians must help themselves. Very often, new people in communities are perceived as “arrived, a lot of our resources go to this.” But in fact, the main resource is people. And in the context of decentralization, most of the community's profits come from employed residents. If all societies understood this, maybe this focus would change a little and go more to support the evacuees.
How Ukrainians, who are unable to offer their own housing, can help your project and support people from the victims regions?
Marianna Bilyk: You can contact the hotline and offer any other services. We have cases where people just come and say they would like to help.
There are main focuses. For example, psychological assistance or focus social. So if you can and have experience supporting families, join. There is also a focus on employment. We try to direct resources to where there is the greatest need, so as not to create this request artificially, but naturally to provide assistance where it is needed most. Therefore, we will simply look at the requests that are in the communities and redirect the person who applied to us there.
“We are creating an environment of trust”
What would you say to people who want to offer their housing, but still have doubts. How can they decide and take the first step?
Marianna Bilyk:“Domivka” is not just a place of housing, but a place of people. At a time like this, hardly anyone can stand aside. We understand that giving away your home is really not that easy. We cannot come and say, they say, rent out all your apartments, and we will find someone to settle.
But if a person is ready for this, does he hesitate and needs advice, then we regard it as a gesture of trust and support not just for one specific family, but for the whole of Ukraine.
Because in fact Ukraine, democracy, development are created with the help of relationships that are made by people who see great value, than just material. We will answer all the questions that interest those who are willing to share their housing or other resources.
Vitaly Okhrimenko: I would encourage you to try. Because for the most part they get an extremely positive experience of communicating with people who will definitely bring some new contacts and opportunities. Good is always multiplied. If you are thinking about how to bring Ukraine closer to victory and have the opportunity to shelter someone, this is one of the best ways to do it.
