Employment and accommodation continue to be significant challenges for IDPs in the relatively safer regions of Ukraine. A concerted effort involving thousands across various communities is imperative to facilitate a seamless transition into their new environments. Svitlana Prokofyeva, the regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action initiative, discussed the challenges faced by IDPs and the nuances involved in setting up an IDP Council in Zhytomyr.
What are the main difficulties encountered by IDPs in your oblast?
– The majority of the concerns revolve around securing employment and accommodation. Although humanitarian aid remains a significant factor for IDPs, these two issues are paramount.
Where do IDPs typically reside in terms of housing?
In our Zhytomyr community, IDPs don’t live in Collective Centers. While there are some international aid projects in the pipeline for building shelters or temporary homes, they are still in the planning stage. Most IDPs either rent their homes or live with their relatives.
How is the job situation? What help is available, and what are the typical opportunities offered to IDPs?
– The employment center does maintain a roster of job vacancies. However, quite often, the displaced persons either lack the required skills or are dissatisfied with the remuneration or work hours.
Could you elaborate on how the United Voices in Action program supports the IDPs?
– Our program addresses a range of areas, with a primary focus on integrating IDPs into their new communities. For optimal efficiency, we’re establishing advisory bodies known as IDP Councils across different communities. Zhytomyr is one such location. Another facet of our program is providing free legal advice for IDPs, both over the phone and through face-to-face meetings. We also arrange on-site consultations following the “transparent office” model. The issues brought to us are diverse, ranging from documentation to alimony, inheritance, and other unique requests. Furthermore, we organize various seminars and workshops.
Could you shed some light on the subjects covered in these workshops and seminars?
– For instance, we are planning a workshop on recovering lost documents. We’ve already hosted seminars on border crossing and the process of attaining combatant status. We discuss a wide range of topics that are beneficial not only to IDPs. These are scheduled at convenient times and are conducted online. Recently, I conducted a session on “IDP Council as a Mechanism for Community Cohesion.” We also had a valuable exchange of experience with representatives of IDP councils from Zaporizka, Poltavska, and Zakarpatska oblasts.
What about IDP integration programs at the local level? Could you tell us whether there are any in Zhytomyrska Oblast and how you are involved in such initiatives?
– Local authorities place a significant emphasis on child integration. As part of our contribution, we organized regional-specific integration activities. Under the United Voices in Action initiative, we planned excursions, quests, and gifts featuring Zhytomyr city symbols for children in May.
Could you provide more details about the IDP councils and their potential benefits in your oblast?
– An IDP Council serves as an advisory body operating under local or state authorities. It facilitates the rapid collection of information on needs and expedites the proposal of solutions. After studying the regulations of Councils from various cities, we concluded that the Coordination Council on IDPs in Zhytomyr would be the best fit for us.
Who can be a part of the upcoming IDP Council?
– Ideally, I’d like the IDP Council to comprise mainly IDPs, NGOs, and charitable foundations that represent or regularly work with IDPs. Forming such a group was challenging, given that we had 12,000 internally displaced individuals. Under the United Voices in Action program, I interacted with partners, charities, NGOs, and IDP activists. Some were immediately responsive, while others were initially hesitant. Our initiative group includes members from a civic organization formed in 2016 by IDPs who arrived in Zhytomyr after the conflict started. We also have representatives of local authorities, businesses, and local inhabitants. The group is diverse in age and profession, but they’re all actively invested in the effectiveness of this advisory body.
Why is the creation of the IDP Council crucial?
– The key advantage is the assurance that one’s voice will be heard. It provides a valuable platform for government and public interaction, enabling them to understand the problems and collaboratively develop solutions. Despite the considerable efforts of local authorities and NGOs, the lack of a consistent working mechanism remains an issue. A specialized communication platform is absent.
What steps are necessary to create an IDP Council in Zhytomyrska Oblast?
– Currently, we function as an initiative group, brainstorming ideas and projects. Despite a year and a half since the full-scale invasion, IDPs continue to grapple with the absence of housing and jobs. Overcoming these challenges necessitates a collective approach, particularly via IDP Councils. We are hopeful that our efforts will receive the support of local authorities, leading to the establishment of a full-fledged IDP Council in Zhytomyrska Oblast.
Free legal aid and useful resources for IDPs are available on the United Voices in Action program’s website.
Source: 20 minutes. Zhytomyr.