Resilience Center Opens in Kyiv, Launched by a Relocated Community from Luhansk Region

A new Resilience Center has officially opened in the Darnytskyi District of Kyiv, established by the relocated Nyzhnoduvanska community — the first center of its kind for internally displaced persons from the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region.

Social managers, psychologists, and social workers will provide free psychosocial support, social services, and consultations to more than 4,000 residents of the community who were forced to move to the capital due to the war. The Center was made possible through cooperation between the Ministry of Social Policy, local authorities, the Nyzhnoduvanska Military Administration, and the Caritas-Kyiv Charitable Foundation. Since March 31, it has been operating at: 3-A Zdolbunivska Street, Kyiv.

“In times of war, supporting people must be more than a declaration — it must be action. We’re seeing communities unite around a shared goal: preserving their inner strength and social cohesion. Resilience Centers are not just about buildings — they are the heart of the community. We are grateful to our partners and everyone who makes such spaces possible, especially for those who lost their homes but not themselves,” emphasized Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy, Oksana Zholnovych.

“When we heard about the launch of Resilience Centers, we immediately knew we wanted to be part of this project. For us, the symbol of this initiative is ‘connection’ — because connection is the foundation of change. We are honored to be a strong and steady support for Ukrainians on this journey,” said Father Roman Syrotych, Director of Caritas-Kyiv.

The Nyzhnoduvanska community is the first among relocated Luhansk communities to independently renovate a facility, creating spaces for individual and group sessions, children’s rooms, and primary consultations. Additionally, six more communities from Luhansk — Bilovodska, Hirska, Bilokurakynska, Lysychanska, Markivska, and Kreminska — have joined the Ministry’s pilot project and will soon open their own Resilience Centers.

Resilience Centers are inclusive spaces where anyone in Ukraine can join peer support groups, attend training sessions on overcoming life challenges, or receive family or individual counseling and social assistance. In Kyiv and across the country, these hubs help people regain their inner strength, cope with stress, and adapt to new realities.

The Ministry of Social Policy’s Resilience Program is part of the All-Ukrainian mental health program “How are you?”, initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska. Today, Resilience Centers are operating in over 250 communities across Ukraine, offering access to psychosocial support, self-help skills development, and essential social services. In 2024, the Government of Ukraine decided to expand the network, including targeted support for relocated communities from temporarily occupied territories.

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