The Chornobaivka community held a regular meeting of the Working Group on Community Engagement, which brought together representatives of the Chornobaivka military administration, the village council's structural units, public organizations, and active community residents.
One of the key topics of the meeting was the presentation of the results of a comprehensive community risk analysis prepared by the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation "Union" within the framework of the Impulse Project, implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the East Europe Foundation with funding from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida).
The study was based on focus group discussions with different categories of community residents, expert interviews, and analysis of the local context. Its goal was not only to record existing problems but also to identify risks that may affect the community's development in the medium and long term.
During the presentation, it was noted that among the most important challenges, residents and experts named the consequences of the war for the mental health of the population, the difficulties of the future reintegration of veterans and military personnel, the social isolation of certain population groups, the insufficient involvement of citizens in decision-making processes, as well as the need for a more inclusive and barrier-free approach to community restoration.
The participants paid special attention to the issue of trust between residents and local institutions. The study showed that youth, veterans, IDPs, and other groups do not always have sufficient opportunities to influence community development. That is why one of the priorities is to expand communication channels and attract new participants to the Working Group's work.
Also during the meeting, a new phase of the Union Foundation's activities was presented for implementation with the support of UNDP Ukraine. Representatives of the United Nations Development Program joined the meeting online and spoke about the planned activities.
Several activities in the new project directly incorporate the recommendations and conclusions derived from the risk analysis results.
In particular, a training program is planned for communities on effective interaction with veterans, military personnel, and their families. Its goal will be to prepare representatives of local governments, the public sector, and active residents for constructive, trauma-sensitive communication and to develop practical recommendations to improve veterans' reintegration into community life.
Another important area will be a course on barrier-free and inclusive recovery. Participants will be able to gain practical knowledge of the principles of universal design and accessibility of public spaces, and take into account the needs of people with disabilities, veterans, the elderly, and other low-mobility population groups when planning recovery projects.
To better understand the structure of local communities, a social mapping of the community will be conducted. It will help identify informal groups, local leaders, existing barriers to participation, and find new ways to involve residents in civic activity. It is expected that this will contribute to the renewal of the Working Group's composition and to a wider representation of different social groups in decision-making processes.
Significant attention will also be paid to the development of communication between local authorities, Working Groups, and community residents. For this purpose, special training events are planned, dedicated to information support of activities, work with the media, and feedback tools with the population. This should increase transparency in recovery processes and strengthen trust between citizens and local institutions.
The presented risk analysis is not only a research document, but also a practical tool for planning further actions.
The use of data and recommendations developed directly through community resident participation enables more informed decisions and directs resources toward solving the most pressing challenges.
Community engagement working groups continue to be an important platform for dialogue among the authorities, the public sector, and residents, helping them jointly find solutions for the safe and sustainable development of communities in the Kherson region, even amid military challenges.
