We continue our efforts to strengthen the resilience of communities affected by armed conflict. One of our key priorities is supporting communities in strategic planning.
On July 1, in the city of Derhachi, Kharkiv region, two focus groups were held with our initiative and organizational support. These meetings were part of the process of preparing the Community Development and Recovery Strategy of the Derhachi Municipal Territorial Community for 2025–2030.
The first focus group brought together representatives of the community’s public sector. Participants included specialists from education, healthcare, culture, social protection, and local government. They discussed the current challenges institutions face in wartime conditions and shared their vision for the development of social infrastructure.
The second focus group focused on local business. It gathered entrepreneurs who have endured difficult times, losing part of their assets, customers, or production capacity due to the full-scale invasion. However, instead of complaints or demands, participants voiced constructive proposals and examples of responsible community involvement. Despite the crisis, businesses continue to pay taxes, support local initiatives, engage in charity, and create jobs. Participants highlighted the need to improve conditions for entrepreneurship, simplify regulatory procedures, and enhance the community’s investment appeal.
Both meetings were moderated by Oleh Kulinich, an expert in development strategy writing and senior lecturer at the Department of Law, National Security, and European Integration of the School of Public Administration at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
Developing an effective, realistic, and people-centered strategy is only possible with the active participation of the community itself. That is why we believe it is essential to create space for open dialogue — where everyone, from teachers to entrepreneurs, can have a voice in the decisions that shape the future of the Derhachi community.
The Strengthening Resilience and Protection of Conflict-Affected Individuals, Communities, and Systems in Central and Eastern Ukraine project is implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization CARE and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.