EEC Reflects on Results of 2017 Project: Effective Training for Successful Integration and Promotion of National Identity

On November 1, the NGO East European Cooperation completed its work in the framework of the project Self-Employment and Social Activity are the Guarantees of the Success of Integration and Social Involvement of IDPs from Eastern Ukraine and Crimean Tatar Communities. Activities primarily focused on promotion and deepening integration of IDPs in local communities of Ukraine and on social adaptation of vulnerable groups.

First and foremost, practical support was provided to representatives of the Crimean Tatar community who were forced to leave Crimea because of harassment and persecution on the part of the occupation authorities and chose Lviv region as their new home. Crimean Tatars are one of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, which has its own identity, language and culture. Therefore, it is important to pay due attention to the group that found itself in a conservative environment with a different mentality, traditions, and social relations.

The main activities within the project targeted Crimean Tatar women and female IDPs from the East of Ukraine. Within the framework of the activities, special events were held aimed not only at facilitating integration into local communities. Participants received practical knowledge and skills that will help improve the financial situation of their families.

Thus, in June 2017, a two-day psychological workshop was held in Lviv, aimed to help the female participants become more aware of their relationships with the surrounding environment. The session was conducted by Lidiya Koval, practicing psychologist and psychotherapist.

On September 12-15, Drohobych and Lviv hosted an intensive two-day training “How to Become a Freelancer: From Business Idea to Co-Working”. The EEC invited Yuliya Kubova, business coach from Lithuania, as the main trainer. Ms. Kubova provided practical information about the basics of starting own business and generating business ideas. Participants received useful knowledge on PR building and promotion through social networks from Ukrainian trainers, learned about the principles of distribution and management of time, and the principles of co-working formation.

All in all, the trainings were attended by about 50 women – Crimean Tatars and internally displaced persons from the East of Ukraine. “We believe that this initiative is extremely important as the trainer team work with an eye on practice. Participants received exactly the information they needed, rather than some general principles of self-employment or creation of your own business. The trainers gave practical examples, focused on practical work and interactive methods of conducting trainings. We received a positive feedback from the participants and we intend to continue activity in this area”, said Beatrice Bilyavtsiv, EEC Director.

“Both trainings may yield practical results, because women are really interested in building their lives here and now. Chances of returning home are uncertain in the long run. In addition, the Lviv training was attended by women trained in traditional goldwork embroidery within the framework of the project of the Lviv’s Crimean Tatar Women Club. Therefore, they already have practical skills in needlework, and we taught them how to start making money by selling their works, how to find clients and business partners”, said Nataliia Kazionnova, EEC Project Manager in Ukraine.

The final event of this part of the project was a workshop in Drohobych for children aged 8-11. Under the guidance of Lidiya Koval, fourteen schoolchildren used art techniques to train their leadership skills and learn to achieve team results.

An important part of the project was the public discussion held within the framework of the Lviv Publishers Forum “Preserving Cultural Heritage of Ukrainian Peoples: Crimean Tatars in New Conditions”. The event was attended by Professor Adas Jakubauskas, poet, writer, Head of Lithuania’s Tatar Association, who spoke about the more than 600-year-long experience of preserving Tatars’ national identity in Lithuania. The event brought together Crimean Tatar leaders of public opinion, a significant number of experts, and an interested audience of people who care about the true history of Ukraine and European experience in preserving national identity, culture and traditions in a new environment.

“Within the project, we covered vulnerable groups that need regular support. We are not talking about humanitarian aid or satisfaction of basic economic needs anymore. Crimean Tatars and IDPs from the East are interested in establishing a normal prosperous life, deepening integration into local communities as full-fledged participants of social processes. This is why, we believe that a combination of educational and informative measures is an effective model. It is practical work aimed at achieving results and long-term effects, because the issues of IDP integration in Ukraine remain relevant, albeit already at a different level”, concluded Beatrice Bilyavtsiv, EEC Director.

As part of the project, a communication campaign was conducted. The EEC invited the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR as a media partner. The videos of events have about 20 thousand total views. In addition, the organization initiated a series of materials published on the website of the channel 24.ua devoted to various aspects of preservation of national identity and culture in a new environment. All the events were covered by the leading regional media of Drohobych and Lviv.

Note: The project Self-Employment and Social Activity are the Guarantees of the Success of Integration and Social Involvement of IDPs from Eastern Ukraine and Crimean Tatar Communities is implemented to facilitate integration of IDPs into local communities in Ukraine and social adaptation of vulnerable groups.

The project is implemented by the NGO East European Cooperation (Lithuania) in partnership with the NGO Areket (Drohobych), and Lviv’s Crimean Tatar Women Club (project of the NGO Crimean Institution for Civil Society) (Lviv).

The project is funded by the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. 

Information partner – ATR TV-channel.