A Forum Theater performance was held in Kropyvnytskyi, attended by IDPs and local residents, including representatives of the authorities, civil society organizations, municipal institutions, and volunteers. The performance featured internally displaced actors who have found their new home in Dnipropetrovska and Kirovohradska oblasts.
The Forum Theatre is a unique format that not only unearths pressing issues but also promotes active interaction between performers and viewers to discover solutions through dialogue collaboratively. The integration of IDP adults and children into new communities was discussed in Kropyvnytskyi as well using the innovative format. This event was held as part of the United Voices in Action program, implemented by IREX in Ukraine together with 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: finding housing, arranging their everyday life, humanitarian assistance, and psychological and legal counseling. The play “IDPs: Realities” deals with these very issues. The actors addressed the problem of the disparity between social services and the real needs of families with children. On the one hand, new communities care about IDPs and try to help them. On the other hand, IDPs realize that some of the offers are not suitable for them. For example, when it comes to employment.
“It’s not really easy for IDPs to find a job in a new place. During the Forum Theater, we had an active discussion of this topic. The audience shared that a common reaction was: ‘Well, why don’t they accept the first offer? If you need money, just get a job!’ But during the performance, the participants realized that quite a few circumstances went unnoticed. For example, the salary level does not allow to feed a child or provide for a family. Similarly, shift work means that parents have no one to leave their child with at night or at other times when educational institutions are closed,” explains Natalia Teslyk, the project coordinator of the United Voices in Action program.
“It is impossible to separate the needs of an IDP child from the needs of his or her family, the solutions must be holistic. Real problems of real people should be taken into account. The organizers of the Forum Theater strongly believe this. The performance demonstrated that people are ready to share their experiences and look for solutions together.
“Overall, everyone’s impressions were positive. The audience found common ground with the actors and expressed their gratitude. Kateryna Koltunova, deputy head of the Oblast Military Administration, also attended the event. Her feedback was also favorable. She said that she would like to involve the deputies in these issues so that they could learn more about the project in the context of the IDP Council,” said Anton Antonov, the regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action program in Kirovohradska Oblast.
The most important result for the audience and participants is the feeling that they are not alone. In fact, we have all suffered from the war, albeit in different ways, the organizers say. The goal of the United Voices in Action program is to support IDPs in different oblasts, and such events are one more opportunity to establish a connection between IDPs, government officials, and civil society.
This activity was made possible as part of the United Voices in Action program, implemented by IREX in Ukraine together with the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and with the support of the U.S. Department of State.