What can be done to stabilize the operation of social protection institutions that have been experiencing overwhelming pressure since the start of the full-scale war? Our regional teams, who have been systematically collaborating with social protection institutions across Ukraine for three years now, have the answers. They also provide legal consultations to IDPs and affected individuals and help initiate the operation of IDP Councils.
We are sharing key results of our work in this direction. In June, we conducted:
- 9 coordination meetings with the leadership of social protection institutions.
- 3 seminars for social protection institutions (covering topics such as the procedure for paying living allowances to IDPs, personal data protection, register of social service providers and recipients, document restoration).
- 13 training sessions on burnout prevention for employees of social protection institutions.
- 5 educational and integration events for IDPs (covering document restoration, compensation for damaged/destroyed housing, and labor relations under martial law).
- 6 capacity-building events for IDP Councils and 1 strategic session.
- 8 meetings for communities needing consultations on implementing social protection system development plans.
- 1 workshop on updating the community social passport.
- 25 coordination meetings with partners.
- 23 integration events for World Refugee Day.
- 1,761 legal consultations.
We also continue to provide technical support to institutions. Over the past month, we have supplied social protection institutions with:
- 51 electric bicycles for social workers, enabling them to cover large distances more quickly and provide services to lonely people with limited mobility.
- 120 uninterruptible power supplies for stable operation during power outages (late May – June).
Additionally, the Foundation participated in an expanded meeting of the Coordination Center for Civilian Support. Valeriya Vershynina, the Executive Director of the Foundation, spoke on the panel “Collaboration with Partners on Supporting IDPs.”
Our regional teams carry out various activities throughout the month in every oblast, aiming to support the target communities comprehensively. For instance, in June, we held 10 events in Zaporizka Oblast. Here are three of them.
“Uninterruptible power supplies allow us to maintain information during constant power outages”
In Zaporizka Oblast, we visited two communities to deliver uninterruptible power supplies. The Zaporizhzhia City Council’s Department for Children’s Affairs received four units. As of July 24, the institution has 2,929 children registered as affected by hostilities and armed conflicts, 145 IDP children in difficult life circumstances, and 147 IDP children under guardianship.
Nataliya Syvoraksha, head of the department, said, “In 2024, the number of children registered with us significantly increased. Stable hourly power outages under martial law lead to work disruptions and the inability to enter information into the EIAC ‘Children’ (Unified Information Analytical System ‘Children’) database timely. We are grateful to our social partners, the Charity Foundation Stabilization Support Services, who have repeatedly provided assistance to families and children registered with our department. The provided equipment allows us to quickly and efficiently process requests and enter data into the database. Thank you for your support, and we hope for further fruitful cooperation!”
The Social Protection Department of the Shyrokivska Village Council, which provides services to over 9,000 IDPs, received three more devices.
Natalia Malyshkina, head of the department, said, “Together with IDPs, there are over 20,000 residents in the Shyrokivska community. And this is not the final number, as people are still arriving. Residents constantly turn to us for help with personal issues. In January, an IDP Council was established in the community, which will continue to integrate internally displaced people into the community. In April, a veteran assistant started working. We need office supplies and equipment for work in all these areas. We are sincerely grateful for the provided office supplies, which will last for a whole year! And a special thanks for the three uninterruptible power supplies, which allow us to maintain information during constant power outages. Thank you for the cooperation! Together to victory!”
“It is crucial not only to avoid stressful situations but also to learn how to recover and recharge”
In June, we also conducted burnout prevention training for employees of social protection institutions in Zaporizka Oblast.
Anhelina Ovcharova, a regional project coordinator, said, “The training created a safe environment that encouraged participants to be open and sincere, positively affecting their mental and emotional health. All exercises were aimed at achieving a resourceful state, as it is crucial not only to avoid stressful situations but also to learn how to recover and recharge.”
Oksana Mozhylina, director of the Territorial Center for Labor and Social Protection of the Enerhodar City Council and training participant, shared, “The exercises helped us unite as a team, discuss solutions to conflict situations, and ways to overcome stress, distress, and burnout. The physical exercises were appropriate and provided an opportunity for physical relaxation. After the training, I felt an improvement in my well-being and calmness thanks to the relaxation exercise called Cloud. I express my gratitude to the Charity Foundation ‘Stabilization Support Services’ and hope for future training sessions. Our work is exhausting and tense, and well-being affects the quality of our work.”
We will continue to support the improvement of the social protection system in target communities. These initiatives are implemented within the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project, funded by the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
