The initiative, developed by the We Build Ukraine team, is implemented within the framework of the “United for Community” project by ISAR Ednannia, with financial support from the European Union.
“Regions will play a decisive role in Ukraine’s recovery and in implementing its economic development strategy,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Head of We Build Ukraine. “It is crucial to involve civil society in planning and implementing change. Through dialogue with local authorities, it is always possible to find better solutions for communities.”
➡️ Key areas of work of “Changes Here”:
- Engaging residents in strategic planning to ensure strategies reflect real needs.
- Providing citizens with tools to influence decision-making.
- Conducting online trainings and workshops for NGOs and local self-government.
- Offering expert support for implementing project ideas.
Gediminas Navickas, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, emphasized that this project directly addresses two key pillars of EU support for Ukraine: supporting civil society and decentralization. “Civil society has been at the heart of democratic transformation in Ukraine,” he said. “CSOs are not just observers but key partners who can create projects, mobilize resources, and monitor the quality of decisions.”
Volodymyr Sheihus, Executive Director of ISAR Ednannia, highlighted the importance of unity in addressing the challenges of war and recovery. “We are moving toward systemic change and jointly developing universal practices for communities with all stakeholders. Today, over 200,000 people work in the civic sector, and this is a huge force for change and for building a better future for the next generations.”
According to Oleksandra Azarkhina, Project Lead, true decentralization happens at the level of every citizen, and this requires effective tools and strong CSOs. That is why the team created the “Changes Here” web platform as a universal tool for anyone who wants to drive change in their community. Visit here – https://zminytut.com/
During the event, Svitlana Slipchenko, Deputy Executive Director of VoxUkraine, presented a new research methodology “The Impact of Civil Society Organizations on Local Self-Government”, which will help build strategies based on quality analytical data. Adam Kharlampovych from Algorytm Diy NGO shared experiences of uniting business, tech, and creative civil society in communities of Volyn region.
The discussion panel “Key Challenges and Opportunities for CSO Development in Communities” featured Ivan Slobodyanyk (Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities), Pavlo Kozyrev (Head of the Association of Small Cities of Ukraine), Olena Hrih (Secretary of Horodok City Council), Tetiana Hulevska (Manager at “Together with Kernel” Charity Foundation), Yevheniia Stadnik (Project Coordinator at Window of Recovery), Daria Kukurika (Executive Director of “League of the Strong”), and Dmytro Perov (Co-founder of “Heritage.Kyiv”).
The panel addressed institutional barriers, lack of funding, and the need for training programs, as well as tools for cooperation with business and media, inclusive practices in communities, and the protection of cultural heritage. The debate covered the CSOs’ path from identifying challenges to overcoming them through strategic partnerships, advocacy tools, and external resource mobilization.
