Support to IDPs and vulnerable groups Archives - Page 2 of 2

HOMECOMING: How Ukrainian Refugees and IDPs Can Help their Communities to Change for the Better

Fellowship Summary: Researching opinions from IDPs and refugees about aspects of their temporary host communities that they would advocate could guide change in the home communities in Ukraine. The research will lead to the promotion of a report on new policies for local development in post-war communities.

Country	Ukraine
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‘uLocal’ IDPs Assistance Platform for Legal and Psychological Support

Fellowship Summary: Development of a digital platform that will facilitate IDPs and those willing to offer assistance to IDPs (in terms of psychological support, legal counselling, and other services) to post requests and opportunities, enabling a volunteer-based matching of services with demands of IDPs.

Anton Bocharov’s Fellowship project, uLocal, is a digital platform created to support Ukraine’s growing population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) by connecting them with verified legal and psychological experts offering free or discounted services.

Launched in 2023, uLocal acts as a smart matchmaking system. IDPs can search a growing database of professionals – currently 24 lawyers and 14 psychologists – filtering by specialty, service type, and location. Each expert profile includes ratings and reviews, allowing users to make informed choices. Once matched, users can securely message the professional and leave feedback afterward. The platform also features a built-in discount system to ensure services remain affordable.

In its first three months, uLocal attracted 965 visitors, nearly 150 registered users, and helped resolve 25 individual cases – mostly related to legal questions about social benefits, housing, and financial assistance. With each resolved request, uLocal not only helps IDPs navigate an unfamiliar system but also reaffirms their right to support and dignity in the face of displacement.

Country	Ukraine
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PROVIDNYK – Interactive Map for People with Mobility Limitations

The PROVIDNYK Action aimed to improve the quality of life of Ukrainians with limited mobility by contributing to the development of accessible infrastructure in their hometowns. The project was implemented in several stages. First, the project team tested and fixed the defect of route planning features for the PROVIDNYK platform. PROVIDNYK is an interactive map tailored to people with mobility limitations to help them navigate in the cities of Ukraine, review the accessibility of places and send automatic complaints (requests) to governmental bodies. In the second stage of the project, the team developed the Users’ Rating and Gamification Feature to the map to increase the users’ engagement and data contribution. Following this, Pavel expanded the map coverage in the additional 3 cities of Ukraine (Vinnytsia, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia). The development of the inclusive map was followed by an online promotion campaign to cover more potential users. Finally, the project team conducted the Online Kyiv Inclusive Roundtable involving the stakeholders from business and governmental sector, as well as civil society activists, and live-streamed the event in Zoom & YouTube.

The project developed and launched two advanced PROVIDNYK features – Route Planning and Users’ Rating & Gamification. As of 30 November 2020, Version 2.0 of the PROVIDNYK map has been successfully covering three additional cities of Ukraine – Vinnytsia, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia; the registered users from those cities already mapped and rated 722 objects (places) on the web-platform. The online visibility campaign and roundtable reached more than 371,000 people and raised public awareness regarding problems of employment of people with disabilities and the creation of a barrier-free infrastructure; Over 80 participants joined/watched live discussion of the Online Kyiv Inclusive Roundtable. On top of that, the implementation of the PROVIDNYK Action has contributed to consolidating the efforts of civil society, state, business, and the public in building an inclusive society in Ukraine.

Online Kyiv Inclusivity Roundtable | 20.11.2020 (in Ukrainian):

Country	Ukraine
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En/Countering Stigma of Terrorism: The Case of Pankisi

The project En/Countering Stigma of Terrorism: The Case of Pankisi was a research implemented in the frame of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Fellowship. Through conducting a number of in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions with the young women and men residing in Pankisi gorge, Mariam analyzed their views about the stigma of terrorism, the factors triggering religious radicalization and young peoples’ outflow to Syria, and the role of the State in maintaining peace and security in the gorge. To finalize the research analysis Mariam met field-professionals at the Central European University in Budapest and accessed the CEU Library for two weeks.

The project produced the research paper reflecting concerns of the young Pankisi residents regarding the stigma of terrorism, their religious preferences, and attitudes towards the Syrian armed conflict. This study is valuable as it introduced an insider’s perspective on the changing social landscape in Pankisi, based on the collected narratives of local young women and men. Furthermore, the research findings discussed the harsh and reactive policy employed by the Government towards the Gorge and its residents that need to be substituted by preventive measures and proactive CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) policies.

Country	Georgia
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