At the end of June, many countries held events dedicated to World Refugee Day. In the Ukrainian context, these events primarily highlighted the issue of internal displacement due to the war.
We also organized a series of activities to discuss the challenges faced by internally displaced persons and communities, as well as opportunities and sustainable solutions for them. Our regional teams arranged round tables, meetings, training sessions, presentations, webinars, city events, and more, involving local government representatives, the public, and international organizations, including UNHCR in Ukraine, the Ombudsman’s Office, IDPs, and members of the IDP Councils.
Take a look at the photos and read below to learn how they went.
In Zakarpatska and Ternopilska oblasts, we collaborated with partners to host large-scale city events. In Uzhhorod, we participated in the “Fair of Solidarity and Solutions for Refugees and IDPs.” Throughout the day, the city center featured 10 informational and interactive stations, including booths from partner organizations like UNHCR, a children’s zone, and a photo exhibition. Our Foundation presented the IDP Adventure social board game, inviting everyone to play and experience the obstacles faced by IDPs.
In Ternopil, we held the My Past, Present, and Future integration event, which highlighted the stages of an IDP’s journey. Installations such as Backpack, Tree (rooting in the community), and House were created for this purpose. The region’s hospitality symbol was a traditional Ukrainian bread, the korovai. The event featured promotional booths by NGOs, exhibitions, a crafts fair by IDP artisans, and masterclasses—19 activities in total.
In Lviv, we organized the Two Years of Full-Scale War: A Frank Conversation about Resilience, Risks, and Consolidation round table discussion.
Taras Podvirnyi, a representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “The biggest challenges for IDPs today are housing and the reduction of financial support. To protect the rights of IDPs who are citizens of Ukraine, we need to develop additional mechanisms at both regional and national levels.”
Danylo Sorokovyi, head of the Rady Lvivshchyny Oblast Association and a participant in the event, stated, “We should continue to hold integration events in communities with international donors, create additional jobs, work on housing provision for IDPs, and create a comfortable space for all community members.”
In Odesa, we conducted the Coffee with a Psychologist workshop for internally displaced persons. Participants learned to recognize their internal resources, develop self-reflection skills, and share their experiences of adaptation and integration.
The meeting in Zaporizhzhia provided a platform for the introduction of various IDP Councils. We screened a short film about Ukrainian refugees, presented key information about refugee status and internal migration in Ukraine, and invited discussions on the importance of integrating IDPs into new communities.
Natalia Denysenko, head of the IDP Council at Novooleksandrivka Village Council and a participant in the event said, “A good event agenda, clear, not too long, and a heartwarming video was very appropriate. A good opportunity to meet and exchange information. I liked that our needs were truly heard.”
Natalia Kyrylova, an IDP from Melitopolskyi Raion of Zaporizka Oblast and a participant in the event shared, “The atmosphere was wonderful! I felt that I was surrounded by people who understood me, who were going through the same things as me, and that I was not alone. This is a very important and valuable feeling. The movie that was shown at the beginning really touched me: I felt the events in it with every cell of my body. And the most important thing is that life goes on, we continue to fight, we are moving towards victory together, we help each other, we are united. I thank the organizers for the event, and for the opportunity to hear and be heard. Glory to Ukraine!”
Overall, our regional teams held 23 events for World Refugee Day in 23 oblasts.
We organize integration events as part of the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project funded by the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
