How can we help people who were forced to leave their homes because of the war without waiting for them to ask for help? In Khersonska Oblast, the IDP Council under the Beryslav District State Administration is implementing the “Step Towards” initiative. Council representatives and partners travel directly to communities where internally displaced people live. This approach makes it possible to respond quickly to the needs of displaced people and coordinate support together with partners.
Anna Minko, Head of the IDP Council under the Beryslav District State Administration, together with representatives of local authorities, the employment service, human rights organisations and civil society, works directly in communities to respond promptly to the needs of displaced people.
The main goal of “Step Towards” is to make support more accessible to IDPs and ensure direct dialogue between displaced people, the IDP Council and local authorities.
During field visits, the team focuses on monitoring living conditions and the current needs of IDPs, as well as coordinating humanitarian assistance. Partners provide consultations on social benefits, document restoration, current legislation, employment and professional development, and cooperation with international organisations and civil society groups.
Vysokopilska community: support for employment and social integration
One of the meetings took place in the Vysokopilska community. Dmytro Tarabaka, Head of the Vysokopilske Office of the Beryslav Branch of the Kherson Regional Employment Centre, joined the work.
Participants discussed employment opportunities, vocational training, retraining and grant programmes for starting or restoring their own businesses. IDPs also received consultations on social support and legal protection. Specialists spoke individually with each person to identify their most urgent needs and provide the necessary recommendations.
Novovorontsovska community: joint solutions to support IDPs
A working meeting was held in the Novovorontsovska community between the IDP Council under the Beryslav District State Administration and the IDP Council of the Novovorontsovska Settlement Council. The main focus was developing a joint response mechanism for the social, humanitarian and housing needs of IDPs.
Representatives of civil society organisations and the free legal aid system joined the discussion. During the meeting, participants learned about the procedure for submitting information to the International Register of Damage, mechanisms for restoring documents, and opportunities for IDPs to participate in ongoing humanitarian and integration projects.
Kalynivska community: infrastructure recovery and support for people
In Bobrovyi Kut village of Kalynivska community, Anna Minko, Head of the IDP Council under the Beryslav District State Administration, together with Maksym Kozhemiaka, Head of the Kalynivska Settlement Military Administration, met with IDPs to discuss and document their most urgent needs.
The meeting covered:
- restoration of the centralised water supply;
- repair of damaged housing and access to international assistance;
- humanitarian support for the most vulnerable residents;
- creation of a “University of the Third Age” to develop digital literacy, provide learning opportunities and promote social activity among older people.
A practice that brings support closer to people
Anna Minko, Head of the IDP Council under the Beryslav District State Administration:
“When a person flees the war, they lose not only their home, but also their sense of stability and connection to their native land. The idea of creating the ‘Step Towards’ initiative came to me together with Volodymyr Litvinov, Head of the Beryslav District State Administration. We clearly understood that if, due to circumstances, our people cannot come to us for help or advice, then it is our responsibility to go to them ourselves. Volodymyr Litvinov immediately supported this concept and provided maximum assistance from the administration.
None of the issues we identify remain on paper. We document them and bring them to meetings of the IDP Council and the Coordination Centre for Civilian Support under the Beryslav District State Administration. Heads of local military administrations and representatives of charitable foundations are involved in this work.
We sincerely want our ‘Step Towards’ initiative to become a strong example of an IDP Council making a real difference and to develop into a regular practice for other IDP Councils across Ukraine. This would make it possible to systematically provide support to all IDPs in every region.
We need legislative tools that would allow us to pool resources and make decisions independently. Only with real mechanisms of influence will IDP Councils be able to protect the rights of our people as effectively as possible. We will definitely not stop. Follow-up field visits will be regular. Our plan for the future is to expand the routes, reach all communities in the district where IDPs currently live, and effectively advocate for people’s rights at every level.”
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.