Last week, the “Cultural Space” of the “Around Us.UA” NGO hosted a meeting of activists from Bohuslavshchyna to discuss the Community’s Development Strategy. This was the first public event held in our new “Cultural Space,” and we were thrilled by the vibrant and timely dialogue among representatives of government, business, and civil society.

Developing and implementing a community strategy is a vital factor in improving the quality of life for its residents. The more people understand and engage with this process, the more effective the Strategy will be. Recognizing this, we support and will continue to support similar discussions through our NGO in Bohuslav.

The forum, officially titled “Partnership for a Better Future: Recovery and Strategic Development of Communities”, was organized by the “Respublica” Institute (Active Community Initiative) in partnership with “Around Us.UA” and supported by the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.

The event brought together 25 participants, including civic activists, volunteers, representatives of local government, entrepreneurs, and active citizens working toward community recovery and development.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Results of the study “Impact and Consolidation of Involved Parties in Community Recovery and Strategic Development”, based on a survey of Bohuslav community residents;
• Factors for effective collaboration between government, civil society, and businesses to achieve strategic community goals.

Participants unanimously agreed that only joint efforts by local authorities, NGOs, and businesses can ensure sustainable community development. They also highlighted the current shortage of active citizens across all sectors in Bohuslav.

Pavlo Pavlichenko, Head of Finance and Revenue at Bohuslav City Council, noted:
“The number of active individuals in Bohuslav is gradually increasing, and that’s encouraging. This growth is an important factor for driving change. However, for tangible progress, we need a larger percentage of actively engaged citizens.”

Pavlo Ruban, a psychologist and board member of the charitable organization “Dzherela” (which supports individuals with intellectual disabilities), agreed that this challenge exists. He emphasized the availability of international methodologies to boost civic engagement across diverse communities, adding: “Such methods can be adapted to Bohuslav’s current realities.”

Oksana Humeniuk, head of the “Around Us.UA” NGO, stressed that cultural activities could serve as a foundation for implementing these practices. The results of the NGO’s work demonstrate that cultural events already captivate and involve community members in active collaboration.

Many participants emphasized the importance of such gatherings in uniting community efforts around a shared strategy. Comments included: “It was fascinating to hear the opinions and research”, “These meetings are inspiring”, “I’m starting to think about how to expand our project specifically in Bohuslav”, “Such events inspire me to create new projects”.

Inna Dushka, Executive Director of the “Respublica” Institute, shared:
“The conclusions from this forum will be considered in the preparation of a report on the recovery and strategic development of communities, which the “Respublica” Institute will present in November at the National Forum. This forum will include representatives from central government authorities directly involved in community development.”

She added that the discussion’s outcomes will influence a set of recommendations that could serve as a foundation for decision-making at the national level.

The forum was part of the project “Research on the Impact and Contribution of Civil Society in the Recovery and Development of Communities”, organized by the nationwide initiative Active Community of the “Respublica” Institute with support from the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.