The General Meeting of the Association for Participatory Community Development was held on April 22–23, 2026. Today, it is an association of 23 communities, among which the Siverskodonetsk community occupies a special place as one that stood at the origins of the Association's creation.

For us, participation in the Association is not just membership, it is a space where our voice is heard on an equal footing with others, despite all the challenges.

The first day was dedicated to the results of 2025. But behind the numbers of the reports for our community is a completely different story.

These are people who have maintained contact while working hundreds of kilometers from home.

These are our educational institutions that are applying new approaches to engaging students and parents in a digital and relocated reality.

It's about the ability to act despite everything, when instead of the usual offices there are online platforms and hubs.

The presentations quickly turned into a lively conversation, as we shared our unique experiences: how to maintain dialogue with residents scattered across the country, and how to prepare the ground for future recovery now.

Participation is not just about tools (participation budgets or surveys). It is about the ability of a community to remain an actor, to stay connected to its people and partners, even when it seems overwhelming.

We are grateful to our partners from the International Organization for Migration ( IOM Ukraine ) and the EMPOWER project (GIZ Ukraine) for supporting our initiatives.

The event was supported by the Mott Foundation.