The first summit “Communities in Action” was held in Kryvyi Rih

As reported by the Zelenodolsk City Territorial Community, this summit is a continuation of the successful Healing Communities initiative launched by the Patriarchal Foundation Mudra Sprava.

“During the Healing Communities training programme, we worked with certain communities. We also took part in the mini-MBA programme ‘Action in Hope’ with Zelenodolsk. This time, we had the idea to organise a summit, to which several different communities were invited to come,” said Fr Lyubomyr Yavorskyy, director of the Patriarchal Foundation Mudra Sprava.

The event was attended by representatives from 4 communities. “This was done so that they could share their experience with each other: they shared stories of the first stage of the Healing Communities training, talked about returning home and holding a strategic session in their communities. Also, in the context of the summit, they shared stories of the emergence of public and youth organisations and the creation of development strategies,” Fr Lyubomyr continues to comment.

The aim of the summit was to bring together active community representatives to build communication networks, develop local initiatives and form thematic clusters.

Participants paid special attention to developing partnerships between communities and creating joint projects to improve the quality of life.

In addition to discussing existing problems, the summit presented successful examples of implemented initiatives in different communities that contribute to socio-economic development, strengthen institutional capacity and improve living conditions.

“It was interesting to hear about the action of one of the communities: they decided to collect unused literature and books in Russian from the Soviet and post-Soviet period and hand them over for recycling. They used the proceeds to organise a cultural event. And representatives of other communities immediately responded. So, this exchange of experience, ideas and achievements, this trusting communication between representatives of different communities was one of the main goals of the Healing Communities programme. So, we have achieved this, and people are eager to go beyond their own communities, to new horizons. By sharing their experiences, they also inspire each other for further transformation,” summed up Lyubomyr Yavorskyy.

“The participation of Zelenodolsk community in the summit is an important step in strengthening its capacity to implement innovative approaches to development and interaction with other communities,” said representatives of the community.

Father Ivan Talaylo, rector of the parish community of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kryvyi Rih, was one of the speakers at the panel discussion “Leadership and Development of Initiatives in Communities”.

In turn, representatives of the Kryvyi Rih community said that the summit participants took part in a simulation game “Cluster Interaction and Communication”, where all participants in groups acted out scenarios of internal and external communication between clusters.

The meeting was also attended by residents of the Velykoseverynivka community.