Located in the Prybuzhzhya area, this dedicated team of five works to unite local government, business, civil society, and academia in driving sustainable community development.
Their efforts include attracting investment, shaping policy, building networks, and delivering training, including business support.
“To carry out our mission, our team stays closely connected with key stakeholders across the Volyn region and at the national level. At the same time, we have a deep understanding of the specific needs and contexts of the communities we work with. This helps ensure that the policies we develop and the projects we implement are practical, targeted, and truly support local development. Thanks to our team’s expertise, we’re able to take on more complex projects – something that smaller NGOs or local governments often can’t do,” explains Iryna.
Founded in 2021 to support city councils during Ukraine’s decentralization reform, the NGO paused operations briefly due to the Russian full-scale invasion. By summer 2022, the team regrouped with new members and a renewed focus, launching initiatives tailored to current needs — including support for internally displaced persons, youth leadership, urban development, tourism, and cultural heritage. They’ve also built cooperation with partners in Poland and Lithuania.
Among their achievements, Iryna proudly mentions 14 completed projects. They include Novovolynsk’s first cultural development program and an updated local business strategy emphasizing social entrepreneurship — all developed in collaboration with local authorities and residents.
Looking ahead, the team is working on their 2025 strategy and operational plan, developed with their mentor through the #JustTransitionUA project. Iryna shared that the online sessions and Ecosystem Builders Track Bootcamp in Lviv helped them “radically revise” their work and organizational approach.
“It is such a good opportunity for us to change because when we see the specific steps that we have to take to make our organization successful and develop, it becomes much easier to work,” says Iryna. She added that thanks to the project, she and her colleagues built closer partnerships with other NGO participants from the Volyn region involved in the Ecosystem Builders Track, and they would like to collaborate on joint initiatives to support their local communities.
