On June 20, the world marked World Refugee Day — a day of solidarity with those forced to leave their homes because of war, persecution, or disasters. This topic is especially relevant for Ukraine. The full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation forced millions of Ukrainians to search for safety in other parts of the country.
Regional teams of the charitable organization Stabilization Support Services organized activities for IDP Councils to highlight the importance of supporting, cooperating with, and integrating internally displaced persons and strengthen their role as drivers of change.
In Zaporizhzhia, during the roundtable “From Loss to Participation,” participants discussed the experiences of people who went through displacement and the role of communities in supporting them. They shared how personal loss became a motivation for social engagement.
The “Living Library” project collected emotional stories: people who had lost their homes, peace, and familiar lives brought objects symbolizing their lives “before” and “after” displacement. The displaced participants didn’t just talk about challenges — they shared pain, recalled the most difficult moments, cried, and together reflected on their journeys and new experiences.
In Kalush, Ivano-Frankivska oblast, a photo exhibition titled “New Faces of the Community. Stories of Resilience” was held. The event showcased portraits and stories of IDPs who have become part of the local community.
In Berehove, Zakarpatska oblast, the documentary film Jamala’s Struggle was screened, followed by a discussion on the experience of internal displacement.
In Mykolaiv, examples of successful initiatives by displaced persons were presented. The meeting participants planned an awareness campaign to raise awareness about the rights and needs of IDPs and overcome stereotypes in this area.
Participants in Kremenets, Ternopilska oblast, created an installation called “Tree of Hope,” where they shared their wishes for Ukraine and their communities.
In Dubno (Rivnenska oblast), Romny (Sumska oblast), and Chernihiv, participants played the board game “At the Crossroads”. The game simulates the life journey of a Ukrainian refugee and reflects the challenges of forced displacement.
These activities were conducted within the project “Support the capacity of state institutions and local communities to strengthen the social protection system in Ukraine”, implemented with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.