Boyarka Community Foundation, Ukraine
“We have already forgotten what illuminated streets are. It is scary and sad to walk home after work in complete, terrible, impenetrable darkness, where there is also no light…the darkness has entered our lives and weighs on us with an indescribable burden.” These words were penned in December 2022 by Maria Kyrylenko, Deputy Chair of the Boyarka Community Foundation, in a letter to foreign supporters of the foundation. The letter provides a vivid and moving account of the realities of working in wartime.
To support its community through the difficult times, in 2023 the Boyarka Community Foundation launched the “Phoenix” programme, which the GFCF supported with a grant. Phoenix focused on the psychological rehabilitation of people living in Boyarka – both longer-term residents and internally displaced people (IDPs). This involved the organization of regular rehabilitation courses run by psychologists and social workers. The courses combined direct one-on-one and group therapy sessions with “softer” activities such as creative workshops, art therapy, nature excursions, etc. Phoenix also had a cultural component: to boost community morale, the foundation organized a series of cultural and educational events. These were significant for many in Boyarka who view culture, identity and belonging as a source of social well-being.
In parallel, the Boyarka Community Foundation launched a small grants programme focusing on psychological recovery. It encouraged different local groups to come together to develop proposals, and invited community members to participate in the selection and evaluation of grants. This was to ensure that efforts around rehabilitation and recovery were driven by community members and their priorities. 14 local initiatives were funded, including tailored support programmes for the wives of fallen soldiers, horseback riding lessons for children from vulnerable families, a photo exhibition celebrating the community of Boyarka, etc. One grant recipient commented: “The contest gives you the opportunity to act on your own, and not wait for someone else to do it for you.”
In March 2024, the GFCF made a follow-up grant to the foundation to continue this work. Their 2024 programme “Happy Days” specifically addressed the mental health challenges facing children and adolescents in Boyarka. In 2025, also supported by a GFCF grant, the foundation will be focusing on the psycho-physical recovery of Boyarka residents. The small grants programme “Vital Energy” will support local initiatives that encourage community well-being through sport and physical activity.
Since 2022, the GFCF has made four grants to the Boyarka Community Foundation, totaling US $79,365.