World Social Work Day: Ministry Recognises Ukraine’s Most Impactful Social Service Providers

On 18 March, to mark World Social Work Day, Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, with the support of agri-industrial holding Astarta, gathered top-performing social service providers in Kyiv from across the country. The event honoured over 50 teams for their everyday work that makes a real difference in the lives of Ukrainians.

These teams are at the forefront of delivering innovative social services — including “Resilience Centers,” “Support for Military Personnel and Their Families at Military Units,” and a new approach to supported living and residential care based on the “money follows the person” principle. Their work supports veterans and their families, older people, persons with disabilities, and promotes mental wellbeing across Ukraine’s Resilience Centres.

“These projects are particularly meaningful to me, because they are changing the way we think about social support. For the first time since independence, Ukrainians can access Resilience centers in their own communities. For the first time, the government is contracting services from NGOs through a new procurement model. We’ve united the efforts of the state, civil society and business — and it’s this synergy that’s helping us build a more human-centred social policy that truly changes lives”, said Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.

The business community is also playing an active role. Astarta has become a key partner in the Ministry’s pilot project to establish Resilience Centres — barrier-free spaces where people can access psychosocial support.

“We believe that strong businesses can only thrive in strong communities. This is not just a part of our strategy — it’s our core belief. “Our goal is not only to offer resources, but also to inspire others to become socially responsible. Systemic change is only possible through partnerships — with communities, government, and civil society,” stressed Alla Yurchuk, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Communications at Astarta.

The Ministry of Social Policy continues to scale up its pilot programmes in social service provision, bringing in new partners and adapting global best practices to better support those in need.

To date, more than 200 Resilience Centres have been established under the Ministry’s “Resilience Building” project — part of the All-ukrainian mental health program “How Are You?” initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The support service for military personnel and their families is now operating in 35 military units across Ukraine.

Another pilot — the supported living and residential care project — has launched in 18 communities, allowing internally displaced older people and persons with disabilities to access services where they live, with funding following the person.

Tags: