In July 2024, together with the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, we announced the second wave of the Community reBuilding competition: grants for communities to create or renovate the physical spaces of community building centres, and to develop the programme activities of such centres.

We received 366 applications from communities across Ukraine. Taking into account the active participation of communities and the desire to support veterans, UMAEF decided to select 11 winners instead of the planned 10. The eleventh community centre will be a veterans’ space in Piadyky hromada.

As part of the competition, the winning communities will receive UAH 1,400,000 each for the development of community centres and support from mentors with expertise in architecture, culture, communication and social interaction. In addition, experts in engagement, inclusion and communication will work with the selected communities to advise on finalising concepts and implementing projects.

The second wave of the Community reBuilding project will include:

  • Bar Hromada, Vinnytsia Region. The project is being implemented by the NGO “Association of Users of the Bar District Library “World of Information”. They plan to create a free space for meetings, trainings and exchange of ideas in the Bar public library. The space will have six functional zones: information, book and children’s areas, a relaxation corner, an IT platform and a cinema club.
  • Boiarka Hromada, Kyiv Region. The project will be implemented by the Boyarka Community Fund. The public space will be created in one of the community’s last summerhouses, built more than a hundred years ago. It will be multifunctional and will be able to accommodate a public cultural and veterans’ centre, a youth space and a public museum.
  • Halytsynove Hromada, Mykolaiv Region. The project is being implemented by the NGO “Center for Adult Learning and Education “South”. The cultural and artistic space for community building, based on the village club, will function as an art studio and educational centre. It will also provide social and psychological support and organise cultural events.
  • Hrymailiv Hromada, Ternopil Region. The project will be implemented by the NGO Institute of Urban Culture. In the Fedorovych Museum will be created a transformer room, which can be used for various events with the possibility of zoning. It is expected that the Fedorovych space will host a cinema club, workshops, presentations, discussions, literary evenings, etc.
  • Dovzhan Hromada, Zakarpattia Region. The project will be implemented by the NGO “Borzhava”. The team plans to create an inclusive space called “Fortress”, where it will be possible to hold group classes, film screenings and theme evenings.
  • Kolomyia Hromada, Ivano-Frankivsk Region. The project will be implemented by the NGO “Hromada’s Power”. The team will work on an inclusive space called “Hart” for veterans and their families. Here they will be able to organise their own events and receive psychological support.
  • Kopychyntsi Hromada, Ternopil Region. The project will be implemented by the NAVKOLO Charity Fund. It is planned that the main activities of the public space “NAVKOLO” will be educational programmes and cultural events, psychosocial support, development of public initiatives, integration activities for internally displaced persons (IPDs) and local residents, support for small business and entrepreneurship.
  • Moshny Hromada, Cherkasy Region. The project is implemented by the NGO New Druzhkivka. The Doctor’s House, a monument of architectural and cultural heritage, will combine a museum and a public space. Rooms with the most authentic elements will be used as exhibition halls. Others will be used for cultural, educational and artistic events.
  • Pustomyty Hromada, Lviv Region. The project is implemented by Agency of Transformation M.CLASS. The hub is expected to become a center for the integration of local residents. The aim of the hub is to become a platform for development, exchange of ideas and learning. Special attention will be paid to the social rehabilitation of veterans, support for their families and IDPs.
  • Piadyky Hromada, Ivano-Frankivsk Region. The project will be implemented by the Stepan Tarabalko NGO “Discover Your Dream”. The “Warmth of a Winged Soul” health centre, which has been providing support to veterans and their families for two years, has a request for a common space for cultural and educational programmes, psychological groups, etc.
  • Slavuta Hromada, Khmelnytskyi Region. The project is implemented by CO “Reborn Ukraine”. The Art Tech Hub will provide access to modern equipment and technologies. It will teach robotics, programming, modelling and 3D printing. It will function as an open co-working space where visitors can go from idea to finished product.

Community centers are accessible physical spaces for communication and interaction, support for local initiatives, and the involvement of all residents, including those from vulnerable groups. Such spaces promote solidarity through joint learning, volunteering, and planning for the future. In this way, community building helps to strengthen social cohesion and avoid social conflicts, which is especially important in times of war.

The projects are expected to be implemented by mid-August 2025.

Community reBuilding is a partnership project of Cedos and the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) that provides financial and expert support for the creation or renovation of community centers.

You can learn more about the project here.