Ms. Nina, an internally displaced person from the indomitable city of Kherson. Today, she came to the hub first thing in the morning to pick up her repaired items, which have now been given a new lease on life thanks to our craftsmen. Due to her small pension and lack of skills, it was difficult for Ms. Nina to handle household problems on her own.
“The hub has made my life so much easier. I’ve used just about every service: in the sewing department, the seamstresses helped me repair and hem many items, and the specialists in the construction department fixed my kettle and towel dryer. I also called a repairman to my home to hang some shelves and screw down a door. I’ll admit, it was very hard without the Hub. I’m 75 years old, my pension is small, I don’t know how to do repairs, and I’m not very good at sewing either. So, I tried to fix whatever I could on my own, and the rest of the things just sat there. Now everything works, and I’m very happy,” — emphasizes Ms. Nina.
Mr. Mykola is also among the hub’s regular visitors. He is a displaced person from Kherson. After the full-scale war began, his family fled the occupied territory, first to the Rivne region and then to the Mykolaiv region. Having lost practically everything he owned, he is now trying to set up a new home in Mykolaiv.
“I visit the hub regularly. First and foremost, I pick up equipment for repairs. Recently, I rented a hammer drill, a screwdriver, an electric saw, and many other tools. I don’t have my own tools — I left them all at home — and my pension doesn’t allow me to buy new ones. That’s why the hub really comes in handy. The technicians who work here are very skilled; they do an excellent job and are always ready to offer advice and guidance. The equipment I rent is constantly inspected. If I’m having trouble figuring out how to use something, they teach me and show me everything,” — says Mykola.
The opening of the social workshop for residents of the Mykolaiv region has been a real lifesaver. In its first year of operation, more than 5,500 residents of the Mykolaiv region have used the hub’s services. Among the users are internally displaced persons, the elderly, people with disabilities, large families, and anyone facing difficult life circumstances.
According to Yulia Vikhryak, coordinator of the regional social hub in the Mykolaiv region, the hub has been in high demand among city residents since its very first day of operation, providing Mykolaiv residents with services that had previously not been offered free of charge. Its space has brought together thousands of people who find support and new opportunities here every day. Not even significant power outages and a cold winter could stop the hub’s operations.
“Every day, people come here who have been affected by the war and find themselves in difficult life circumstances; many of them have lost their homes. Some need something hemmed or their clothes mended; others need to rent tools; and many people call on our craftspeople for minor home repairs. We also have social workers who care for the elderly. Our seamstresses often hem their clothes, and our specialists visit them at home to repair items or household appliances. Many of the hub’s visitors are mothers with young children. “We’ve had a meeting room for half a year now, which includes a children’s area with toys, building blocks, themed games, and fun coloring books. Here, children who come with adults can have a fun and engaging time while their moms work in the workshops,” — says the hub’s coordinator.
In total, 3,581 people have used the services of the sewing and construction workshops since the hub opened. A total of 1,429 people have called on craftsmen for minor home repairs. 678 people have rented tools.
The Mykolaiv hub is located at 13/9 Mariupolska Street
Workshop phone number: +38 050 449 53 22
The Mykolaiv Social Hub operates as part of a project implemented by the charitable organization Stabilization Support Services Charitable Foundation and the German humanitarian organization Sign of Hope with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO).