Locations‘Engine of change’
Viktoriia Savchuk, 30, has never wanted to live anywhere else apart from Voznesensk, a small town in southern Mykolaiv Oblast, where everything feels close. “There are only four traffic lights on the way to work,” she says with a smile. “It’s quiet, cozy. You know every street.”
When Russia’s full-scale invasion began, that sense of safety was shaken. In the first weeks of the war, fighting reached the city, damaging homes and forcing residents to flee or hide in shelters. Viktoriia remembers trying to explain to her five-year-old son why they had to hide in a basement as explosions echoed nearby – a conversation no parent is ever prepared for.
Today, air raid sirens still interrupt daily life, and her son, now older, remains sensitive to the sound. But for Viktoriia, the decision to stay has never changed.
“It’s better to be at home,” she says. “Here, you understand what’s happening. You know how to react. You are not just a drop in the ocean – you can actually influence things.”
Her journey into community work began long before the war. Starting as an administrator in a local civil society organisation, Viktoriia gradually took on more responsibility, managing projects both locally and across regions. Over time, she became deeply involved in strengthening her community from within, step-by-step, project-by-project.
Since 2022, that work has taken on new urgency.
With support from the United Nations Development Programme and the governments of Denmark and Japan, Viktoriia and her colleagues helped restore and transform a previously unused space in the local House of Culture into a vibrant youth hub. Rather than creating something entirely new, they chose a place where young people were already gathering, ensuring the space would truly belong to the community.
The result is more than just a renovated room. It is a place for informal meetings, cultural events, and quiet evenings. It even has a balcony designed for small gatherings, where young people can come together, play music, and reconnect.
For Viktoriia, this work is about more than infrastructure: it is about creating reasons for others to stay as well.
“Young people need opportunities for education, employment, and self-development,” she explains. “Otherwise, they leave. We want them to feel that they can build their future here.”
Despite the challenges of war, she sees signs of change. Local young people are becoming more active, volunteering, organising events, and supporting Ukraine through local initiatives. At the same time, Viktoriia understands how important it is to show them that their efforts matter and that change is possible.
Looking ahead, she envisions a Voznesensk that continues to grow, with new jobs, investments, and opportunities that allow people to thrive in their hometown.
“We're moving in small steps toward that vision,” Viktoriia says. “My dream is for people to strengthen their own community instead of leaving for bigger cities.”
