Locations
Anna Shcherbakova, the director of the centralized library system in Chernihiv Oblast.
More than three years into the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukrainian women are actively rebuilding their war-affected communities. Despite immense challenges, Ukrainian women remain hopeful and resolute in spearheading positive change.
In Chernihiv and Kharkiv oblasts, even as shelling and drone attacks persist, women are fostering safety, hope, and trust. They are supporting both local residents and internally displaced persons or IDPs, demonstrating that women, including the younger generation, can lead recovery efforts.
In Zakarpattia Oblast women leaders are working to create an inclusive community in which locals and IDPs can access essential services equally. The western Ukrainian oblast had an IDP population of around 66,000 as of October 2024, according to the IOM, the majority of them being women and children.
We met with a few of the women around the country who are working in their communities to bring about recovery and revive hope and trust in the future of Ukraine.
Anna Shcherbakova, the director of the centralized library system in Chernihiv Oblast, has established resource hubs for people in the 24 libraries she oversees. With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, made possible by the contribution of the Government of France, she connects women seeking employment with resources to start their own businesses, empowering them to shape their own futures.
Living near the border, Chernihiv Oblast residents grapple with anxiety and fear, but Shcherbakova’s libraries provide a sense of safety, hope, and connection.
“The library staff act like counsellors, and through conversation, women feel supported and motivated,” Shcherbakova explains.
“Recovery is not only about reconstructing infrastructure, but also restoring trust and hope.”
“I want to support my community because I see the transformative impact of united efforts. Each of us has the power to contribute to the growth and resilience of the community. I firmly believe that small, meaningful actions can bring about profound changes. My vision is to foster an environment where every resident feels supported, safe, and empowered to pursue their aspirations.”
Aliona Kompaniiets, a 24-year-old director of the House of Culture in the village of Nova Vodolaha in Kharkiv Oblast, has always been passionate about culture and the arts. When she was given the opportunity to lead the House of Culture, Aliona eagerly accepted. Full of ambition and bold ideas, she was ready to turn a new page in her professional life. However, with the onset of the war, her plans were jeopardized. She had to find new approaches to her work to once again prove that culture remains vital even in the hardest of times.
“At first, it was frightening,” Kompaniiets admits. “It felt like culture was ‘not a priority,’ but I believed that it had the power to support people.” And she was right. Together with her team, Kompaniiets began creating music videos featuring Ukrainian songs, which quickly gained support in the community, becoming a symbol of unity and hope.
Today, she is working on establishing a media centre with support from UNDP. This centre is envisioned not only as a hub for preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage but also as a platform for fostering women’s creative initiatives and leadership roles.
“I truly hope that our Ukrainian culture, our folk songs, tales, and poetry, will be passed down from generation to generation and never fade away,” woman shares.
The media centre will serve as a platform for women of all ages to exchange ideas, share experiences, and develop their creative projects. One of the key initiatives will be the project “Remarkable Women of Nova Vodolaha,” which will spotlight the stories of local women dedicated to preserving folk traditions.
“We want to create a space where every woman feels valued and understands that her ideas can transform the community,” Kompaniiets explains.
She believes in women’s leadership and their potential to build stronger and more cohesive communities. Her vision is of a thriving, harmonious, and resourceful community where culture serves as the foundation for development.
“I’m confident that together we can make our community a model for others, where creativity and culture drive the future,” she concludes.
Since the early days of the war, Maryna Stashina-Neimet has been working to create a more inclusive community in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia Oblast, by ensuring that legal information for IDPs is accessible.
“I aim to help create a comprehensive service system so local residents and IDPs who have settled in Zakarpattia Oblast can receive the knowledge, resources, and support that meet their needs in their own communities,” Stashina-Neimet says.
As a visually impaired person herself, she is committed to making public spaces and government services accessible to all – not only IDPs, but also locals who have small children, people with disabilities, and injured veterans returning from the frontlines.
Inspired by UNDP’s training, Stashina-Neimet is advocating to the government for a barrier-free community.
“Communities thrive and remain cohesive when united by shared values, mutual support, and a collective drive for progress,” she says. “It’s essential that everyone has the opportunity to be heard and contribute meaningfully to common goals.”
Vitaliia Kabatsii, a German language teacher, promotes cultural exchanges for locals and IDPs in Zakarpattia Oblast through trips to Germany.
Having undergone training with UNDP, Kabatsii says she now understands the importance of self-care to avoid burnout and sustain her community efforts.
With this renewed perspective, she aims to continue leading and managing cultural exchange activities to help young Ukrainians gain a deeper understanding about themselves and others, which in turn improves community cohesion.
“Recovery for me means locals and IDPs learning how to coexist,” she says, while acknowledging that in already ethnically diverse communities discrimination against IDPs is weakening social ties.
“However, despite the challenges, I’m confident that, together with IDPs, our communities have immense potential. The fusion of diverse experiences, cultural values, and fresh ideas unlocks unique opportunities for growth, mutual enrichment, and the creation of a more resilient society.”
Empowering women: resilience in war, strength for the future
Resilience in wartime is about adaptation, innovation, and the determination to build a future even amid destruction. For many Ukrainian women, this means finding ways to navigate constant uncertainty while helping their communities not just endure but grow. Whether creating spaces of cultural identity in displacement, advocating for inclusive services under strained resources, or sustaining local economies despite disruptions, their resilience is deeply practical. But maintaining this strength takes more than individual effort — it requires ongoing investment in their leadership, mental health support, and policies that ensure their voices shape Ukraine’s reconstruction.
In partnership with the Government of France, UNDP supports women like Shcherbakova, Kompaniiets, Stashina-Neimet and Kabatsii by enhancing their recovery initiatives, providing them with training in project design and management, among other areas. The training is designed to impart skills to women and young women, building on the substantial recovery work they are already leading in their communities. UNDP is committed to supporting these locally-led recovery efforts and contributing to the strengthening of women's leadership in resilience-building and community development. It is also intended to motivate them to continue their work, even in very challenging situations, through giving them the emotional support of like-minded people.
By empowering women in recovery and social cohesion endeavours, these initiatives ensure that Ukrainian communities are not only reviving, but also evolving into more inclusive, equitable, and resilient societies. Together, these women are shaping the future of Ukraine, demonstrating that even amid adversity, hope and determination can drive significant change.
Photos in Chernihiv and Kharkiv oblasts: Danylo Pavlov / UNDP in Ukraine
Photos in Zakarpattia Oblast: Valentyna Polishchuk / UNDP in Ukraine
