East Europe Foundation is thrilled to announce another 14 winners of the third phase of the Capable and Resistant Program, generously supported by Switzerland.

Civil society organizations will receive grants to provide services to people who suffered from the full-scale invasion and families of the military personnel, to support vulnerable populations, to conduct activities aimed at combating gender-based violence, and to increase women’s economic empowerment.

These 14 civil society organizations received grants under the first, second, and third lots.

Lot 1: Grants ranging from UAH 400,000 to 500,000 for CSOs with previous experience in implementing similar projects and the necessary professional capacity. Approximately five projects are planned to be supported under Lot 1. 

Lot 2: Grants ranging from UAH 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 for CSOs with previous experience in implementing similar projects and the necessary professional capacity. Approximately 10 projects are planned to be supported under Lot 2.

Lot 3: Grants ranging from UAH 3,500,000 to 4,000,000 for CSOs with previous experience in implementing similar projects and the necessary professional capacity. Approximately 10 projects are planned to be supported under Lot 3.

We received over 500 applications from civil society organizations within the competition. Of them, twenty-four organizations received grants. We are excited to introduce the next 14 winners and provide a snapshot of the projects they are undertaking:

1. Casers Civil Society Organization with the project “Restoring access to healthcare services through the introduction of telemedicine in de-occupied and frontline settlements”, Kyiv

The project aims to restore access to healthcare services for the population of the frontline, de-occupied territories, and communities close to them. Within the project, they plan to ensure the operation of four telemedicine centers based on local Primary Health Centers in de-occupied and nearby communities to restore access to family medicine and specialized doctors via medical consultations, home visits by specialized doctors, to recruit new employees from the local population for telemedicine centers and to conduct training sessions for them, and to purchase equipment and furniture for four telemedicine centers in the communities.

1. Civil Society Organization Parostok, the Vinnytsia City Organization for Social Development and Formation of Certain Disadvantaged Categories of Youth, with the project “Social Cohesion in Action”, Vinnytsia, Zhmerynka, Mohyliv-Podilskyi, and Kozyatyn communities, Vinnytsia Oblast

The project promotes the social integration and adaptation of IDPs, including persons with disabilities, who reside in Vinnytsia Oblast communities by facilitating the development of social mechanisms related to interaction and mutual support, maintaining resilience, and providing psychosocial aid. Within the project, they plan to support the initiative groups of active displaced residents with disabilities or who have family members with disabilities to conduct psychosocial support and recreational activities in communities to aid IDPs. 

1. Civil Society Organization Center for Strategic Initiatives with the project “Winners’ Money Box”, Khmelnytskyi Oblast

The project aims to improve the social, psychological, and economic situation of the rural population of Khmelnytsky Oblast, including IDP families, Ukrainian military personnel, women heading households, women volunteers, and others, by improving and developing their domestic, psychological, social, and economic competencies and capabilities. Within the project, they will provide consultations on issuing and implementation of collective appeals, as well as on preparation and implementation of socio-therapeutic initiatives, holding training sessions on writing appeals for greenhouses for people-centered legal entities, selecting established groups of families, based on collective appeals, to receive gardening equipment or greenhouses, purchase equipment and materials, provide “seed boxes” to residents of Khmelnytskyi Oblast of multi-vulnerable categories from at least 20 communities; will organize Household Skills Courses for women from four communities of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast.

1. Emmaus Civil Society Organization with the project “Psychosocial support for families raising children with mental disabilities in Kharkiv”, Kyiv

The project is intended to integrate young people with disabilities and their families into society by improving their psychological and social well-being. Within the project, they plan to stabilize the psychological state of parents and guardians who raise children and youth with disabilities, and also of children and youth with mental and/or physical disabilities via group psychoeducation classes and individual psychological counseling for parents/guardians, social support for families (if needed), organization of basic literacy and other life skills training for children and youth with mental and/or physical disabilities, individual sessions with youth with speech impairments, psychosocial and creative activities to improve social skills.

1. Civil Society Organization Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin with the project “Protection of the rights of victims of military aggression, illegally detained civilians, and their relatives”, Ukraine

The project is designed to provide legal support to persons who were illegally imprisoned following the armed aggression of the Russian Federation so that they could use their rights to state aid and protect their violated rights to receive such support. Within the project, they will provide legal support to people, who have been illegally imprisoned, and their family members so that they could receive social and legal support from the state. They will also provide support within several lawsuits on protecting the rights of illegally detained civilians (after their release) and their families and preparing publications with explanations of the most common questions about illegal detention.

1. Civil Society Organization Information and Educational Center “For Equal Rights” with the project “Establishing a HUB for social integration and rehabilitation of the Kherson LGBT+ community”, Kherson

The project is designed to increase the social integration and rehabilitation of the LGBT+ community by providing comprehensive support. Within the project, they plan to open and establish an accessible space for the LGBT+ community in Kherson to hold joint events and also provide psychological and legal support to the LGBT+ community. They will also organize training sessions on reproductive health, gender-based violence, financial literacy, and employment, and hold 12 support groups to help LGBT+ people communicate in the community and reduce their isolation and loneliness.

1. Civil Society Organization Creative Hub Berezhan with the project “Atelier School”, Berezhany, Narayiv, Kozova, Saranchuky, Pidhaitsi communities, Ternopil district, Ternopil Oblast

The project is intended to improve the economic capacity, social integration, and psychological adaptation of IDPs and vulnerable groups. Within the project, they will organize a course “Seamstress of the Third Rank” for IDPs and other vulnerable categories wishing to learn a new trade at the Atelier School, provide additional equipment for the Atelier School, and conduct social adaptation training, psychosocial training with elements of art therapy, and basic training in entrepreneurship and business planning.

1. Charitable organization Volunteers Without Borders Foundation with the project “Hands of Kindness”, Zhytomyr

The project is intended to provide the social rehabilitation of IDPs and vulnerable categories of the local population, people with disabilities, the elderly, and children via psychological support. Within the project, they will equip a sensory room with an interactive floor so that training sessions stimulate social integration and rehabilitation and help ensure better psychological support. They will also hold group and individual training sessions in the sensory room.

1. Civil Society Organization International Center “The World Through the Eyes of Children” with the project “Help Women”, psychological and rehabilitation support to women and their children affected by war, Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhzhia Oblast

The project is designed to provide social, economic, and psychological support to women and their families, IDPs, and people with disabilities via legal aid, implement educational programs, and create conditions for economic independence. Within the project, they plan to conduct individual and group psychological counseling sessions aimed at restoring emotional balance and raising awareness of self-help methods, stress management, and emotional management. They will also organize art therapy sessions to improve psychological well-being, dance and movement therapy to overcome hypo- and hyperactivity and improve physical fitness, group seminars/training sessions on basic aspects of financial literacy, and workshops to improve their confidence in using financial knowledge, training sessions on the basics of entrepreneurship, digital financial instruments, and cybersecurity. Also individual training sessions with a speech and language therapist to support and develop children with special educational needs. Create and equip the educational space “Mini Kindergarten” for children aged 3.5 – 6. They will purchase equipment, furniture, and resources for the space.

1. Charitable Organization Charitable Foundation “We Have to Live” with the project “Unity: meetings to support the wives of fallen defenders”, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Sumy, Khmelnytsky, Chernivtsi, Lviv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Irpin, Rivne, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Kryvyi Rih, Kremenchuk

The project is intended to improve the psychological, emotional, physical conditions, and social integration of 450 wives of fallen Ukrainian defenders by conducting offline support activities in 18 territorial communities of Ukraine. Within the project, they plan to conduct an information campaign about the project’s launch, course, and results, analyze the needs of registered participants based on registration forms, and hold offline events within the Unity project for the wives of fallen defenders in the territorial communities of Ukraine.

1. Charitable organization Dzherelo Training and Rehabilitation Center with the project “Prevention and accessibility of services to combat GBV for people with reduced mobility, including IDPs, in Lviv Urban Territorial Community”, Lviv

The project is intended to provide alternative temporary accommodation services for people with reduced mobility who have suffered from domestic or gender-based violence, as well as raise public awareness of the identification and procedure for dealing with domestic violence. Within the project, they plan to equip a safe space adapted for the needs of people with reduced mobility, develop a comprehensive training program on recognizing the signs of gender-based violence (GBV) and methods of response for different population groups, organize training events in Lviv institutions, develop a concept for an information campaign, disseminate information about the project and GBV issues, and hold a public event to present the project’s outcomes and achievements.

1. Civil Society Organization All-Ukrainian Public Center “Volunteer” with the project Civic HUB “Informed and Pro-Active”, Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts

The project is intended to engage residents of two communities in Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts in community decision-making and be socially active. Within the project, they plan to equip safe community cohesion centers in two communities: Velykf Oleksandrivka AH (Kherson Oblast) and Novyi Buh LTC (Mykolaiv Oblast), renovate them, and purchase furniture and equipment. The centers will be used to train community activists, who will undergo a series of training sessions on making the community more active. They will organize a competition for civic initiatives proposed by activists, discuss them at public hearings, and agree on the winning projects with local authorities. They will organize events for community residents: public hearings, public discussions, creative workshops for children and youth, safety courses (medicine / mine safety / safe behavior), resilience training, workshops and master classes, creative meetings. The “Petitioning is Easy” and “How to Influence Community Life / How to Be Heard in the Community?” booklets will be distributed. Organize a final information event to promote the project outcomes.

1. Charitable organization Depaul Ukraine Charitable Foundation with the project “From homelessness to a decent life”, Kyiv

The project is intended to improve the social and economic reintegration of homeless women and men in Kyiv by providing comprehensive emergency aid to homeless persons, as well as to facilitate their social and economic reintegration. Within the project, they will establish an emergency shelter in Kyiv, provide psychological support, legal and social assistance. They will organize group and individual employment counseling, as well as digital skills training. They will distribute hygiene kits so that homeless people can use the bathroom to meet their hygiene needs. Dignity kits will be provided to women and men, with gender-sensitive kits designed for women.

1. Charitable organization Wings of Victory Charitable Foundation with the project “Aibolit. On the path to recovery”, Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast

The project is intended to ensure social rehabilitation of veterans with serious injuries, people with disabilities, and children with developmental disabilities by providing legal, psychological, and medical advice, as well as raising awareness of microbusiness options. Within the project, they will promote first-aid skills among students, volunteers, and others. They will improve the dispatch service and organize free transportation of seriously injured but stable patients to healthcare facilities. They will also organize individual consultations with a psychologist and a lawyer, swimming lessons for veterans, and “Start and Improve Your Business” micro-entrepreneurship training. They plan to develop and produce a business game called “Plan, Do, Improve” for training sessions, as well as organize a series of retreats for veterans and their families, and conduct first-aid training. They will also design a website for the organization and purchase equipment