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19/08/2024
Sustainable Growth Amidst War

The full-scale war has dramatically altered the trajectory of Podil Agency for Regional Development, a non-governmental organization based in Vinnytsia. On February 22, 2022, the agency approved a strategic development plan for the next three years. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced a radical shift in their plans. Despite the turmoil, the dedicated team remained in Vinnytsia, swiftly adapting their priorities and goals to the new reality.

From Global Goals to Meeting Basic Needs

Galyna Seheda, the organization’s communications officer, recalls that in the initial months following the invasion, their office became a refuge for people from the most affected areas, with hundreds of displaced individuals seeking assistance. Every day, Halyna received numerous calls from people desperately looking for a place to stay in Vinnytsia. The challenge of finding accommodation quickly evolved into ensuring that temporary shelters were adequately staffed and that asylum seekers had the essentials for living in their new environment. Consequently, supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) became a primary focus for the civil society organisation (CSO).

 

“Thanks to East Europe Foundation, which was the first to offer us cooperation, we began assisting internally displaced people and signing memoranda of cooperation with shelters,” Halyna says. Initially, their efforts involved providing essential equipment to temporary shelters. Subsequently, they launched two additional projects to supply not only equipment but also food packages, bed linen, and hygiene products.

In addition to aiding IDPs, the team also supports veterans. In collaboration with the city council and partner CSOs, Podil Regional Development Agency established the Prometheus Centre for Rehabilitation and Treatment of Phantom and Chronic Pain in Vinnytsia. The center leverages the expertise of Israel, Norway, Sweden, and the United States to assist servicemen who have lost limbs or sustained other significant injuries.

Following the onset of the full-scale war, Halyna worked nearly seven days a week. The organization’s premises also served as a shelter, and she was responsible for opening and closing it after hours. After months of relentless work, she realized she couldn’t continue at that pace. “I realized that if I didn’t take a day off this week, I would just collapse. I didn’t even need a holiday, just a weekend to get some sleep,” she says. Simple activities helped her regain balance and recover: buying flowers, making green tea with sweets, and hugging her dog. Over time, as the war continued, she adapted, faced fewer urgent requests, and the organization’s processes became more streamlined, making it easier to manage her resources.

 

Internal Growth

 Halyna Seheda has been with Podil Regional Development Agency since 2011, witnessing its transformation from a small local initiative into a powerful organization. Initially, they had no stable premises, website, or social media presence. Today, the CSO occupies a 200-square-meter office space and communicates through multiple channels. This internal growth was partly facilitated by the institutional support program under the Phoenix project, implemented by East Europe Foundation with funding from the European Union.

The team has undergone audits, training in financial transparency, and the adoption of the latest software. The HR policy is also being updated. Additionally, the project provided the CSO with laptops and routers that can operate during power outages, ensuring uninterrupted operations. “A good CSO is like a pyramid with a broad base. A bad organization stands upside down, so it’s easy to push it over. This project helped us build our foundations and stand on stronger footing,” Oleh Levchenko, Development Director of the CSO, says. He adds, “The localization of CSOs, support for regional organizations, and those who are active and capable are crucial for the country’s survival. Such projects help grow both competitors to large organizations in the capital and partners for them at the same time.”

East Europe Foundation’s Phoenix project also helped develop documents for raising funds through various social platforms, private, and corporate donors. According to Halyna Seheda, these newly created documents have already been beneficial in applying for grant competitions that require them: “The fact that we now have them shows our CSO as a stronger, more sustainable, and trustworthy organization.”

The original article on EUPROSTIR