We talk about the contribution of public activists of Chernihiv Oblast to the implementation of the "Women" agenda. Peace. Security." Six Chernihiv women became "Ambassadors of 1325". They were included in the list of ambassadors of Ukraine, who Ukrainian Women's Fund recognized in the regions for sustainable achievements, new vision and active contribution to the development of the "Women" agenda. Peace. Security." Meet:
Iryna Kulyk - deputy head of the NGO "Association of Democratic Development"
Iryna Kulyk represents the NGO "Association of Democratic Development", which for decades of its activity is known not only in Chernihiv Oblast, but also far beyond its borders. This is a public organization whose work is aimed at supporting women in the economic, political and social spheres, promoting gender policy and developing the women's movement in Chernihiv Oblast, implementing the "Women, Peace, Security" agenda. The war did not change the main vector of NGO activity, but expanded its spheres of activity, in particular, it added a humanitarian response.
"We were forced to respond to the challenges of war. Despite the fact that we had to leave the Chernihiv region, we continued our activities, accumulated help that could be provided to the victims, in particular women and children. It was an emergency response, necessary things were transferred to Chernihiv Oblast and other regions: hygiene products, food products, kits for women in labor, Iryna Kulyk says about the team's work in 2022.
Later, the members of the organization returned to Chernihiv and joined active activities. The "Democratic Development Association" helps women adapt and rebuild their lives in war. An example of this is the project implemented in the communities of Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions with the support of UN Women. Its target audience was women with disabilities and women raising children with disabilities. Project participants took part in a number of trainings, developed and implemented plans for information and advocacy campaigns, conducted an assessment of the availability of services in their communities, developed and implemented initiatives aimed at improving the access of women with disabilities to humanitarian aid and protection, participation in humanitarian response.
In 2023, with the participation of the NGO with the support of the UZHF, a modern barrier-free gynecological office was opened in the Chernihiv Maternity Hospital. It improved access to health care for women with disabilities, groups with reduced mobility, as well as victims of gender-based violence.
Every year, the geography of the regions where the organization implements its projects expands. Last year, thanks to cooperation with TDH Italy, safe and comfortable spaces for children were opened in Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions, where a professional team of specialists provided psychosocial support services to children and their parents (guardians). This year, the project to create children's spaces and activities in them is working in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Among the projects aimed at psychological assistance, the representative of the NGO also mentions "Strengthening the psychological stability of residents of communities of Chernihiv region", supported by the Ukrainian Women's Fund. It was implemented in 2023 in cooperation with the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the region. In six communities, including border communities, during trainings, psychologists of the State Emergency Service explained to parents and education workers how to respond to the psychological needs of children. An important direction of activity of the "Association for Democratic Development" is the initiation and support of entrepreneurship, including women's entrepreneurship.
One of the implemented projects in this area is – "Supporting life support of Chernihiv region" in partnership with the international organization ZOA in Ukraine. Participants who suffered as a result of military operations, including IDPs who wanted to rebuild, expand or start their own business, were trained, wrote and defended business plans. 150 participants received microgrants, of which — 81 were women. Another project with ZOA Ukraine — "Support in the livelihood of the conflict-affected population of Chernihiv region" — provided both targeted monetary assistance to IDPs and war victims from territorial communities of Chernihiv region, as well as support for micro-businesses, in particular the agro-sector from among IDPs and/or those whose micro-businesses suffered from the war.
"Association of Democratic Development" continues to make an important contribution to the development and strengthening of the women's movement of Chernihiv Oblast and the activities of the Coalition "Chernihiv Oblast 1325". By the way, the project "Active and capable: activities of women's NGOs as a response to the challenges of the times" contributed to the popularization of the activities of 12 women's organizations of Chernihiv Oblast through the dissemination of information about their activity in local media. The result of the project was a forum of women's public organizations of the region and a calendar for 2025 was issued. This project was also supported by the UZHF.
"We actively cooperate with local women's NGOs, authorities, representatives of the security and defense sector regarding the development and implementation of the regional action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace, Security". After all, the war requires greater participation of women in the life of communities, their more active involvement in decision-making processes and activities for the restoration of affected regions. And we are ready to act and react together", Iryna Kulyk emphasized.
The publication was carried out within the framework of the communication campaign of regional coalitions 1325, which was supported by the UZHF.
