Veteran spaces and solar panels for educational institutions: 7 communities will raise more than UAH 11.5 million for their projects with the MHP support
Energy-independent educational institutions, multifunctional spaces for veterans, and modern street sports space for youth: communities from Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Sumy Oblasts will implement 7 projects within the “Growing together with MHP” pilot competition.
On November 9, winners of the competition, which was held by MHP and MHP-Gromadi CF in cooperation with the Mariupol State University within the training program for community representatives School of Leaders “My Community and MHP: Growing Together”, were announced.
From June to November 2024, more than 40 community leaders, council secretaries, village heads, and deputies learned to work efficiently as a team, designed grant projects, and improved their professional skills. In the second stage of the School of Leaders training, participants wrote their grant applications. The participants were supported by the project mentors during the entire stage. Following the training, the results of the competition, within which the participants had the opportunity to raise UAH 500,000 – 1,000,000 for their projects, were announced.
Cooperation between businesses, authorities, and communities should be strategic and aimed at achieving long-term sustainable effects. Investments in training and professional development ensure a strong ground for regional development, therefore, MHP in cooperation with its strategic partner MHP-Gromadi CF usually pays attention to the training of participants for their announced grant projects and social initiatives. We are ready to share our expertise and engage experienced experts in the fields of community development, and project management, while also encouraging and supporting community leaders, their institutions, and proactive citizens who want to contribute to meaningful change. Therefore, we have announced a competition within the School of Leaders that will help participants implement projects not only in theory but in practice as well.
In cooperation with the MHP-Gromadi CF and MHP, our institution of higher education introduced the School of Leaders to improve the professional development of community representatives. Joint efforts proved the importance and demand of such support. We are happy that our cooperation will aid communities in implementing certain projects intended to improve local services thus making communities more secure and efficient.
The competition committee received 19 projects for a total funding amount of almost UAH 40 million. 7 teams intending to implement initiatives in their communities for over UAH 11.4 million, of which over UAH 5.2 million is the grant contribution of the MHP-Gromadi CF, received the highest grades.
All the winning projects of the community will be implemented in 2025. Three of the projects focus on energy efficiency, three on spaces for the reintegration of veterans, and one on a sports space for the physical fitness of youth.
- The Baryshivka community project “Learning with Light” involves the installation of a solar power plant on the roof of the Mriya extracurricular activity center, where more than 1,000 pupils of sections and studios from the entire community, as well as students of the local lyceum, study. Energy-efficient equipment will not only help to save costs for the institution but will also ensure the continuous educational process during power outages.
The total project budget is UAH 1,9 million.
- The Kaniv community project “Resilience Centre” provides for the establishment of a veteran space where professionals will ensure psychosocial support to veterans, military personnel, and their families to facilitate their adaptation to civilian life and integration into the community. The project will be implemented by the team of the executive committee, Kaniv city council, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy within the All-Ukrainian mental health program “How are you?” by Olena Zelenska.
The total project budget is UAH 1,4 million.
- The Tarashcha community project “Source of Life” provides for the installation of a 30 kW hybrid SPP at the local water supply station. It will ensure uninterrupted water supply to more than 2,000 families and 101 organizations in Tarashcha.
The total project budget is almost UAH 1,5 million.
- The Myronivka community project “Veteran Pro” provides for the establishment of a multifunctional space for veterans and their families to ensure their reintegration into civilian life via psychological, social, and legal support, as well as professional adaptation. The space will provide field-specific advisory services, self-help groups, training, and leisure for veterans.
The total project budget is almost UAH 2,4 million.
- The project “Safe Stops: Solar Energy of the Bobrytsia Community” provides for the installation of solar street lighting on the territory of 18 stops in 5 settlements, which will contribute to increasing energy efficiency and safety in the community.
The total project budget is almost UAH 1,1 million.
- The Bershad community project “A Kindred Soul (Svij do Svoho po Svoie)” provides for the establishment of a veteran space “Svoi” in the Balanivka village with a gym for physical rehabilitation and sports, a public workshop, a lounge area for recreation, and group activities. Upon their return, the defenders will be able to undergo physical therapy supervised by a rehabilitation doctor, consult a psychologist, a lawyer, and participate in group activities to facilitate their physical, psychological, and social rehabilitation in that veteran’s space.
The total project budget is almost UAH 1,5 million.
- The Khmeliv community project “Cossack Endurance” provides for the establishment of a modern sports youth space with 15 up-to-date street simulators for young people.
The total project budget is almost UAH 1,4 million.