On Thursday, July 31, a significant event took place in the Korabelny district of Mykolaiv: the charitable organization “Shchedryk Charitable Foundation”, with the support of the foreign non-governmental organization “Oxfam”, solemnly opened the multifunctional Assistance Center, which is a new center and key point for providing comprehensive support to vulnerable segments of the population and stimulating community development in the conditions of the ongoing war.
The opening ceremony was attended by numerous distinguished guests, which emphasized the importance and public resonance of the initiative. Among them: Oleksandr Sienkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv; Jakob Torrild Hansen, Head of the Office of the Embassy of Denmark in Mykolaiv; Andriy Pasichnyk, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Development of the Kherson Regional State Administration; Oksana Yelchiyeva, Director of the Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, as well as the Director of the Response Direction in Ukraine at Oxfam, Nicola Bay, and representatives of various public organizations.
Their presence became a vivid testimony to the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Mykolaiv region community and the importance of international partnership in difficult times.
Comprehensive support in wartime
The new Ship Center is a logical continuation and expansion of the effective “Help Center” platform, developed by Shchedryk together with Oxfam back in August 2023. It will continue to provide a wide range of vital services, including:
Psychological, social and advisory support: help in overcoming war trauma, adaptation and integration.
Free laundry services: important household support for those who need it most.
Short-term courses in business planning.
Significant achievements of the “Help Center” project
The activities of “Shchedryk” in cooperation with “Oxfam” have already demonstrated impressive results, confirming the effectiveness of the chosen approach:
Training and retraining: 225 people underwent a two-week training in “Business Planning and Small Grants”. Most importantly, 83 of them received grants to develop their own business, the amounts of which ranged from 2,300 to 4,500 euros. The total amount of grants provided was 331,700 euros, which significantly stimulates the local economy and self-employment.
Employment and creation of new jobs: About 50 people have been successfully employed at municipal enterprises in Mykolaiv, such as KP “Mykolaivelectrotrans”, KP “Mykolaivpastrans”, JSC “Mykolaivblteploenergo” and MKP “Mykolaivvodokanal”. They received such sought-after specialties as electric and gas welder, bus and trolleybus drivers, which contributes to the restoration of the city’s infrastructure and the provision of jobs for the population.
Social support: 189 people received psychological assistance and free laundry services. Among them were 62 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 68 people with disabilities, 8 large families, and 51 representatives of other vulnerable categories, which emphasizes the Center’s inclusive approach.
“The opening of this Center is not just another event, it is a significant step in the development of our community, which demonstrates that even in the most difficult times we are able to join forces and create the future. This is evidence of our faith in the power of solidarity and the potential of every Ukrainian,” said Serhiy Kolesnik, President of the Shchedryk Charitable Organization, in his speech.
Adding that the opening of a new multifunctional Assistance Center in the Korabelny district of Mykolaiv is a vivid example of how joint efforts of local and international organizations can bring tangible positive changes to people’s lives, supporting their development and helping to overcome today’s challenges.
PHOTO REPORT
