When RPCV Emily Watson (2010–2012) teamed up with Oksana, director of the Sokal’ Raion Association for People with Disabilities, they turned a Peremoha Mini-Grant into real impact. From candle making and community gatherings to the delivery of essential goods, their project supported some of the most vulnerable residents of Sokal’ and Zhvyrka.
RPCV: Emily Watson, Community Development, 2010-2012
Ukrainian Partner: Oksana Kononova, Director of Sokal’ Raion Association for People with Disabilities
Region: L’vivska Oblast
Emily Watson (RPCV 2010–2012) partnered with Oksana, the director of the Sokal’ Raion Association for People with Disabilities (SRAD), to secure a Peremoha Mini-Grant. The grant supported a range of SRAD programming, including peer-to-peer gatherings, arts and crafts projects (such as candle making, sewing, embroidery, and beading), and the coordination, purchase, and delivery of essential goods to community members in Sokal’ and Zhvyrka. The recipients included displaced individuals, older adults, and people with disabilities.
For more than a decade, SRAD has organized inclusive social events for people with disabilities in Sokal’ and surrounding communities. These events offer participants a chance to learn new skills and help foster a stronger sense of community.
The mini-grant enabled SRAD to directly assist community members, including regular program participants. Some of these participants also helped implement the grant by contributing to the planning, packing, and delivery of hygiene and sanitation products, along with food. In total, 24 volunteers supported visits to 40 families that included individuals who are either displaced, elderly, or living with a disability in Sokal’ and Zhvyrka.
Because of the war, since early 2022, SRAD has experienced a decline in both in-kind donations and other funding sources that traditionally supported its operations. The SRAD office continues to serve as a hub for packing and distribution events (as shown in the attached photos), as well as for hosting community events, partner meetings, and administrative work.
The Peremoha Mini-Grants program, launched in 2022, empowers Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and their Ukrainian partners to lead impactful projects supporting humanitarian aid, community development, education, and youth initiatives. These grants are made possible through charitable contributions and proceeds from the Babusya’s Kitchen Cookbook.
You can help make a difference! Donate to the Peremoha fund, purchase a cookbook, or apply for your own grant to support Ukraine.