Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the "Egida-Center" NGO in Kryvyi Rih has been welcoming and assisting displaced persons (IDPs), helping them settle and integrate into the Kryvyi Rih community. The municipal cultural institution "Narodny Dim" serves as a haven for those forced to leave their homes due to the war. The integration of IDPs into the city’s community is a key focus of the project supported by ISAR Ednannia through the "Basic Support for CSOs Working in Humanitarian Response" grant from July 2023 to July 2024.
IDPs Helping IDPs
The organization's activities began long before the full-scale invasion. Larisa Sydorenko, who moved to Kryvyi Rih from Makiivka, Donetsk region, in 2015 due to the war, recalls receiving support from local activists at the time. Now, she is paying it forward by helping others. As the coordinator for IDP-related issues at "Egida-Center," Larisa explains: "The city has stepped up to defend the country. Many of the IDPs who just arrived are now among our volunteers or even in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We support not only IDPs but also our soldiers."
"Solving All Issues, Working with Every Individual"
"We distribute humanitarian and charitable aid, assess the initial needs of IDPs, and refer them to the necessary specialists. We solve all issues and work with every individual," says Nataliia Patrusheva, head of the "Egida-Center."
The project has supported 20,920 individuals..
Stories of Resilience
One family from Kherson region, displaced after nine months of occupation, shares: "We were disoriented after moving to Kryvyi Rih. Our happy lives and dreams remained in our hometown. At the IDP reception center 'Narodny Dim,' the volunteers from 'Egida-Center' provided us with critical support—helping us register as IDPs, find a doctor, secure housing, and access essential supplies. After the destruction of our home due to the Kakhovka Reservoir explosion, they were the first to comfort and support us. They gave us hope and strength."
Another family from Zaporizhzhia region, whose home was severely damaged, expresses gratitude: "The 'Egida-Center' helped us find employment, provided psychological support for our child, and connected her with peers through a children's space. Your kindness offers not just material aid but also joy and hope."
"Egida-Center" Looks Ahead
"Egida-Center" plans to continue its work beyond the ISAR Ednannia funding period, focusing on repairing city infrastructure, assisting a newly opened clinic, and participating in the reconstruction of another medical facility. They remain committed to integrating IDPs into the Kryvyi Rih community. "Just because there's a war doesn’t mean everything stops," says Larisa Sydorenko.
This project to enhance volunteer efficiency and integrate IDPs into the Kryvyi Rih community is implemented by "Egida-Center" and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by ISAR Ednannia in partnership with the Ukrainian Center of Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM).
