Community-Building Guide

This Guide continues the public education program of the Community reBuilding project. As part of this program, ten online seminars were held, dedicated to various aspects of the work of community and cultural centers.

Within the Community reBuilding project, we use the term “community-building center” to refer to accessible physical spaces where people from various social groups can come together for leisure, community development, cooperation, and comprehensive realization of their human potential.

Community and cultural centers, or community-building centers, play a key role in the process of community development, as they provide the physical space for interaction among community members. Through the organization of cultural, educational, and social events, such centers help develop social ties, form shared values, and increase trust among people. Strengthening communities is an important aspect of community development during the full-scale war.

The guide begins with a section on bringing communities together through cultural programming. This section helps understand how to engage and develop communities within community-building centers. The second section focuses on the types and possibilities of adult education. The third section explores the topic of sustainability and the functioning of community-building centers during wartime and uncertainty. The fourth section addresses issues of inclusivity and accessibility, including physical, informational, digital, social, and educational aspects. The fifth section discusses the communication tools and methods used by community-building centers to engage different audiences. The sixth section focuses on approaches to involving and interacting with veterans. The seventh covers how community and cultural centers can work with young people. The eighth section highlights the role of community-building centers in addressing environmental issues. The ninth section is dedicated to engaging older people in active community life. The final section of the guide provides information on how community-building centers can work with the youngest members of the community.

Each section of the guide consists of the subsections What to consider, Checklist, and Useful materials. The What to consider subsection presents specific aspects of working with each topic and provides practical advice. The Checklist includes questions that are important to ask yourself if you plan to work more closely with a particular topic. The Useful materials subsection contains publications and other resources that can help expand your knowledge of each topic. Some sections include case descriptions, particularly the experiences of creating the first wave of community-building centers within the Community reBuilding project, which illustrate the section’s topic.