Supporting Ukrainian Society Through Capacity Building of Volunteers/Activists, Legal and Advocacy Support for IDPs

The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, coupled with the state’s limited capacity to respond promptly, led to the rise of a massive volunteer movement that addressed the critical needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly during the early months of the war.

 However, many volunteers and civil society organizations lacked adequate knowledge of the legal frameworks surrounding volunteering, as well as the norms for providing humanitarian and charitable aid. Additionally, a significant number of IDPs required professional legal assistance.

The intense workload and emotional strain caused by the war underscored the need for psychological support for both volunteers and NGO members.

This project aims to provide comprehensive and systematic support to volunteers and IDPs, helping them effectively navigate and overcome the challenges brought on by the full-scale russian invasion.

The project focuses on comprehensive capacity building for volunteers and activists, alongside legal and advocacy support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine. Key activities include:

• Enhancing the legal knowledge of volunteers to ensure effective management of their activities.
  
• Offering psychological support to help volunteers manage stress and emotional challenges.
  
• Strengthening the competencies of volunteer organizations to improve their effectiveness.
  
• Providing legal assistance to IDPs, including support with document preparation and filing appeals to public authorities.
• Advocacy for legislative changes aimed at improving the legal protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Development and distribution of informational materials to help IDPs better understand and navigate legal issues.

American Bar Association Rulе of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI Ukraine)

Institute of Leadership and Management

December 2022 – June 2023

Volunteers and activists from NGOs that emerged in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Ukraine

1. An online course was developed for volunteers of civil society organizations and activists, covering topics such as volunteer management, mental health support under stress, and the legal aspects of volunteering. The training aimed to enhance collaboration between organizations involving volunteers and activists in their initiatives.
2. Psychological supervision was provided to volunteer teams and associations, with individual supervision for volunteer organization coordinators.
3. Legal support and counseling were offered to internally displaced persons, including assistance in drafting legal documents and representing them when applying to municipal and state authorities.
4. Recommendations were developed for internally displaced persons based on current legislation, including an analysis of its changes, along with advocacy for relevant legislative initiatives.
5. Information materials were created to assist internally displaced persons in navigating legal issues.