A series of webinars for social care professionals in the Kyiv region

The Association of Women Ambassadors of Ukraine, as part of the project “Strengthening gender-sensitive employment and economic integration services for IDPs and returnees in the Kalynivska, Zgurivska, Baryshivska, and Pereiaslavska communities,” implemented with the support of the Council of Europe, conducted a series of trainings for specialists from social service centers in the Kyiv region on the following topics:
● Gender-sensitive approaches to providing psychological and social support.
● EU best practices: models of employment and social support integration.
● Trauma-informed approach to counseling displaced persons.
● Social integration strategies for returnees and persons who have been IDPs for a long time.
One of the goals of this initiative is to help both internally displaced persons and those returning from abroad to integrate into new communities and feel at home, even if there is currently no possibility of returning home. The only point of entry and the first point of contact for these people in host communities are public services, namely social service centers.
To achieve this goal, we promote the implementation of best European practices and relevant modern approaches by organizing training and initiating dialogue between state and public services that work directly in communities.
The introduction of trauma-informed and gender-sensitive career counseling and psychosocial support allows us to take into account a person’s individual experience, understand their needs, and the unique set of challenges they face, because, unfortunately, IDPs often encounter multiple challenges in their new communities.
We are especially grateful to Natalia Valeriivna Ibragimova, director of the Kyiv Regional Center, for her help in organizing training sessions and involving specialists from social service centers, as well as for her support in developing professional competencies and improving work tools even in wartime conditions.

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the Council of Europe Project “Facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees at the community level”. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the Council of Europe.