Nikolaiv Region’s First Resilience Hub Empowers Displaced Families with Skills and Business Growth

Launch of the 'Community Heart' Resilience Hub

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: In November 2025, the Nikolaiv region saw the inauguration of its very first resilience hub, named 'Community Heart'. Located in Voznesensk and Novyi Buh, this center offers displaced individuals opportunities to acquire new professions, receive business training, and access free support services. Renovations are currently wrapping up in Kobleve. This initiative is spearheaded by the Rokada Charitable Foundation in partnership with German organizations such as AWO International, Deutsche Zusammenarbeit, and Aktion Deutschland Hilft.

The Poslavskyi Family’s Journey

The Poslavskyi family relocated from Kherson to the Nikolaiv region in May 2022 and became active participants in the hub’s programs. Before the conflict, Hennadii Poslavskyi worked in IT, while his wife, Iryna, was an accountant. They decided to enroll in training offered by the hub. “We left the occupied territory on May 1, 2022. We lost all our property in Nova Kakhovka - our apartment, our children’s apartments, and our office. We only managed to bring our businesses with us and continued working in our fields,” Hennadii recalls.

After completing their courses, the family received a grant to develop an agricultural business as part of the 'Our Backyard Garden' project. The grant provided essential equipment, including:

• a branch shredder
• a convertible ladder
• greenhouses
• irrigation hoses

With these tools, the Poslavskyi family established a vegetable garden complete with a chicken coop, greenhouse, and over 2,000 square meters of cultivated beds. “Nature played a big role in our recovery. What started as therapy turned into a thriving business. Today, we grow nearly everything we need across our garden and poultry setup,” Iryna explains.

In 2026, their harvest included strawberries, zucchini, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, and various fruits. They sold part of the produce, processed some, and used the rest to feed their chickens. “We sold some of the crops, preserved others, and used leftovers to feed our poultry. This approach turned our farm into a self-sustaining system where nothing goes to waste,” Hennadii emphasizes.

Meanwhile, in the Voznesensk community, six entrepreneurs who successfully pitched their business ideas are awaiting grants of up to 50,000 hryvnias in equipment. “Currently, six candidates in the Voznesensk area have defended their business plans and are expecting to receive in-kind grants valued at up to 50,000 hryvnias as part of this professional development course,” notes Kateryna Matsko.

The 'Building Resilience and Supporting Vulnerable Individuals and Organizations in Southern Ukraine (BRAVE)' project is implemented by the Rokada Foundation with financial backing from the German government. Through this support, the 'Community Heart' hub not only opens doors for internally displaced people but also fosters the growth of agricultural enterprises in the region.

The establishment of the 'Community Heart' hub marks a vital advancement in assisting displaced persons to rebuild their livelihoods and adapt to new environments. The project not only facilitates professional retraining but also equips participants with the tools needed to expand agribusiness, which could positively influence the local economy. Success stories like that of the Poslavskyi family highlight the potential for local business revival, contributing to the broader post-conflict recovery of the area.