In the small town of Hnizdychiv, resilience and compassion shine brightly amidst the challenges of war. From transforming spaces into shelters to providing essential services for veterans, internally displaced persons, and their families, this community is setting a powerful example of solidarity. Discover how RPCV Patrice Stankavich and her counterpart, Oksana, are making a lasting impact through a Peremoha Mini-Grant—and why this initiative is just the beginning of a long-term commitment to healing and integration.
RPCV: Patrice Stankavich, Community Development Volunteer, 2017-2019
Ukrainian Partner: Oksana Romaniv, Executive Director/Project Manager of Oberig Hnizdychiv
Region: Lviv Oblast
Although Hnizdychiv is far from the frontlines, nearly 4% of its total population—and close to 20% of its working-age men—are active combatants in the current war of aggression. Despite this, the community has come together in remarkable ways: welcoming distant relatives and strangers into their homes, repurposing an old school into a hostel and shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs), reopening a school for children with disabilities to provide a safe space for internally displaced orphans from occupied and frontline communities, and regularly sending supplies to those on the frontlines. While they have tirelessly supported others, the time has come for them to focus on supporting their own.
Patrice Stankavich (RPCV 2017–2019) and her counterpart, Oksana, collaborated to secure a Peremoha grant to establish a space offering administrative, consultative, and social services to IDPs (190 individuals), service members (300 individuals), and their families (1,200 individuals). The grant funded furniture, recruited psychosocial support experts, and supported a two-day train-the-trainer workshop.
The workshop included training for administrative staff on communication skills and fostering tolerance toward veterans. Additionally, psychologists led a session on providing psychosocial support for military personnel, their families, and IDPs.
Currently, the office employs a veteran support specialist who provides comprehensive assistance to servicemen and servicewomen. The specialist offers guidance on obtaining combatant status, benefits, social services, housing solutions, rehabilitation services, and psychological support. They assist with employment opportunities, provide business startup consultations, and offer free legal aid.
Regionally, only two communities have such a specialist, and thanks to this project, the Hnizdychiv community became one of them. This enables the community to provide quality and professional support to defenders directly at the local level. The specialist has provided consultations to 15 families, 10 veterans, and 20 IDPs. This wide-ranging support demonstrates the project’s ongoing impact in delivering essential services to our military community, their families, and IDPs.
The need to support IDPs, veterans, and their families will be a long-term commitment, likely spanning generations. This project lays the foundation for successfully supporting and integrating new community members while reintegrating the community’s heroes.
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.