During a meeting of the Council on Internally Displaced Persons under the Executive Committee of the Voznesensk City Council, participants discussed the development of educational opportunities for IDPs, new approaches to providing temporary housing, and recent legislative changes.
“We Are IDPs!” Space: Education, Adaptation and Mutual Support
One of the Council’s areas of work was participation in developing a program for the development of the Adult Education Center. Members of the IDP Council provided recommendations on how to adapt educational opportunities to the needs of people who were forced to leave their homes.
To support this work, a separate multifunctional space called “We Are IDPs!” is planned. It is intended to provide internally displaced people with opportunities to develop professional skills, receive social and psychological support, and connect with others for mutual support and to launch their own volunteer and business initiatives.
“Houses in the Village”: the IDP Council Proposes a New Housing Mechanism
Housing was another important topic discussed during the meeting. Council members considered the community’s participation in the experimental “Houses in the Village” project. Under the project, communities can purchase residential houses in rural areas for the free temporary accommodation of IDPs.
The Council unanimously supported a recommendation to the city authorities to establish a dedicated commission responsible for the purchase of temporary housing for IDPs. The Council believes that this could become a practical step toward increasing the number of available temporary housing options for internally displaced people.
The Council Monitors Legislative Changes
The meeting also focused on recent legislative changes concerning the protection of IDPs’ rights and their participation in community life. In particular, Council members reviewed the provisions of Law of Ukraine No. 4924-IX, as well as Government Resolutions No. 812 and No. 751.
For IDP Councils, it is important not only to be aware of legislative changes but also to understand how new mechanisms can be applied at the local level. Discussions like these help Council members use available tools to represent the interests of IDPs and prepare recommendations for local authorities.
Importantly, following the discussion, the IDP Council under the Voznesensk City Council not only identified key challenges but also developed specific proposals for the community.
“We are not working for the sake of declarations, but for the sake of people’s lives. The decisions we made today have a clear goal: to provide housing, employment and a sense of security to everyone who needs them. The creation of the ‘We Are IDPs!’ space will become a place for a fresh start and development for hundreds of active IDPs. When the community and the IDP Council act as one team, results are measured not by paperwork, but by real improvements in the lives of specific people,” said Yana Burlutska, Head of the Council on Internally Displaced Persons under the Executive Committee of the Voznesensk City Council.
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.