A regional Forum Theater performance took place in Vinnytsia, with IDPs and representatives of local authorities among the audience. During the play, IDP actors from Zhytomyrska, Vinnytska, and Kyivska oblasts highlighted the issues internally displaced people face in their new environments.
The Forum Theatre is a unique format that not only unearths pressing issues, but also promotes active interaction between performers and viewers to collaboratively discover solutions through dialogue. The regional screening of the play in Vinnytsia was centered around the topic of the integration of both adults and children from among IDPs into their new communities. The event was organized as part of the United Voices in Action program, implemented by IREX together with the Charity Foundation Stabilization Support Services and with the support of the U.S. Department of State.
Families with children who had to leave their homes have many needs: from humanitarian aid to psychological and legal counseling. This was the theme of the play titled Boomerang.
“The story revolved around an IDP from Kharkiv. In 2014, the woman had refused to rent an apartment to a mother with children when she found out that they were IDPs from Luhansk. Later, in 2022, she had to flee war and seek shelter herself. In her new community, she felt the prejudice of landlords toward IDPs on her own skin,” Eleonora Rudenko, the regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action program in Vinnytska Oblast, told about the performance.
The Forum Theater gave the actors and the audience an opportunity not only to voice their problems and experiences, but also to look for solutions together.
“During the discussions, I came up with a proposal that could make it easier to find housing in new cities. We could create a single electronic platform where landlords could publish their offers for IDPs at reasonable prices. Probably, there will be people who will be able to rent out their homes for free. It will also help to avoid additional payments, such as for the services of realtors. I am glad that I was able to present this idea right now and find like-minded people who want to support the initiative,” says Nataliya Shalamay, a volunteer with the Charivna Merezhka NGO.
Among the viewers was Mariya Ishchenko, a representative of the Spilna Sprava IDPs’ association who also shared her impressions, “The atmosphere of the event was warm. I fully experienced this situation together with the actresses and felt all the pain. I hope that the proposals of the event participants will have a positive impact on society and provide support to IDPs.”
Such events are one more opportunity to establish a connection between IDPs, government officials and civil society, the organizers say.
This activity was made possible as part of the United Voices in Action program, implemented by IREX in Ukraine together with Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and with the support of the U.S. Department of State.