Within the Advocacy Support for Strengthening the Role and Impact of Civil Society Organizations Grant Competition, the Active Community Ukraine NGO is helping to rebuild trust and effective cooperation between volunteers and local authorities in the Chernihiv oblast.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, hundreds of volunteer initiatives have been providing humanitarian aid across the region, yet coordination often remained fragmented. The Volunteers – the Driving Force of Democratic Change in Wartime Project united dozens of local initiatives, enabling faster responses to community needs, avoiding duplication of efforts, and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.
Through joint work within the renewed Volunteer Headquarters at the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, volunteers have gained real tools to influence decision-making and direct access to coordination with local authorities.
A vivid example of this change is Serhii Dikalov, a volunteer from Chernihiv. Before joining the project, he worked independently, without connections to other initiatives. Now Serhii coordinates assistance together with colleagues from different communities, which allows for more efficient resource allocation and stronger support for people in frontline areas.
“We’re no longer alone. Everyone knows their role now, and together we can achieve much more,” says Serhii.
This story shows that when volunteers unite and authorities become true partners, humanitarian assistance becomes systemic, effective, and built on trust.
The Advocacy Support for Strengthening the Role and Impact of Civil Society Organizations Grant Competition is held within the framework of the Askold and Dir Fund, operating under the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver Towards Reforms and Democracy Project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia and funded by Norway and Sweden.
