We are launching a series of integration events dedicated to World Refugee Day. Here, we share details about the first three events held in Sumy and Mykolaiv.
In Sumy, the Life in One Suitcase event took place at the Manufactura shopping center. Our regional team in Sumy organized the event in collaboration with partners: the NGO CrimeaSOS, CF Rokada, CF Right to Protection, and the Council on Internally Displaced Persons under the Sumy City Council.
At the location, suitcases labeled with the names of damaged, occupied, and destroyed Ukrainian cities were displayed, along with a map of Ukraine where anyone could write their wishes and share their experiences. The event also featured an audio exhibition, Displaced Fates: Stories of Courage and Resilience, which presented the stories of refugees and internally displaced persons.
The Foundation’s regional teams in Khersonska and Mykolaivska oblasts held a presentation on Modern Migration Processes in Ukraine in the Context of War. These meetings took place at the Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University in Mykolaiv. Attendees included IDPs, members of the IDP Councils of Khersonska Oblast and the Council on IDPs under the Mykolaiv City Council. Participants discussed the work of the IDP Councils, payments, and support programs for IDPs and shared their stories.
Tetiana Halushko, an IDP living in Mykolaiv, said, “We cried while watching the documentary footage. We are sure that every resident of Khersonska Oblast has a personal story to share.”
Olena Hryshko, a member of the IDP Council of the Myrnenska community, stated, “We have been through a lot, and there is even more ahead. We face many problems daily that we must solve: housing, employment, children’s education, and more. Thank you for today’s introduction to the IDP Council of Mykolaivska Oblast, we will now communicate and exchange information.”
These events are part of the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project, funded by the United Nations Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
