The Dodomu digital platform: Rokada presented its experience of working with communities preparing for the return of Ukrainians from abroad
The YOUA – Shaping New Paths, Building the Future of Ukraine project brought together over three dozen communities, international partners, and experts in Kyiv for the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine’s presentation of the Dodomu (Home) digital platform. The resource was created to assist citizens who fled to other countries due to the full-scale invasion and now wish to return. The online platform provides reliable information on opportunities, services, and support available in Ukraine.
The Rokada Charitable Foundation helps communities prepare for the return of residents. The foundation’s specialists provide expert support in developing initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience for the reintegration of those ready to return home. The foundation’s team shared their experience during a workshop.
“Communities need to become just as important participants in the Dodomu ecosystem as the people returning from abroad, because it is the community that shapes the environment where a person decides on their future,” said Alla Krasovska, manager of the Strengthening Community Resilience for Return and Reintegration project. “People are more likely to choose communities they already have a basic understanding of, where they know what services and opportunities are available, and see prospects for themselves and their families. Through the project, we work with nine pilot communities in Vinnytsia, Lviv, and Rivne regions, helping them not only prepare for the return of Ukrainians but also learn how to effectively present their advantages and potential, while developing social innovations and practical solutions that can be scaled up across Ukraine.”
Among the invitees was Mykola Mandryka, deputy mayor of Bar. He noted that since February 2022, about two thousand residents had left the community. It remains unknown how many have returned. The community is a participant in the project implemented by Rokada.
“Although our region is attractive to live in, not everyone in Ukraine knows about the town of Bar, so we need to promote ourselves more actively. The Dodomu platform will contribute to this,” said Mykola Mandryka. “We will highlight that we are actively developing our network of educational and healthcare institutions, which, as Rokada’s research shows, is one of the factors Ukrainians look at when wanting to return home. However, the most critical factors are economic potential and employment opportunities. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, we have been acutely feeling the staff shortage in the municipal sector, so we have something to offer.”
Mandryka added that thanks to the support of international funds and partners, projects to support small and medium-sized businesses are also being implemented in the community.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 15% of the population has left Dubno in the Rivne region, according to Yana Chubay, deputy head of the City Council’s Social Protection Department. However, the community has become a new home for nearly two thousand internally displaced Ukrainians.
“In the context of people returning, we also need to talk about internally displaced persons (IDPs). We have a great example where people first fled abroad, then returned to Ukraine and settled in our community. These are active residents who have opened their own small businesses, which sends a positive signal to everyone — both IDPs and those who decide to return home from abroad,” commented Yana Chubay. “Currently, we expect the new Dodomu platform to become fully active and generate inquiries from citizens.”
Chubay also noted that since the community is a pilot in the Rokada project, the foundation’s experts are helping it identify social innovations that will assist in people’s reintegration.
The Dodomu platform was created within the framework of the YOUA – Shaping New Paths, Building the Future of Ukraine project, which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Government, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine.
“The platform consolidates verified information about government services, support programs, and the opportunities of specific communities in one place, allowing a person to understand which options are available in their particular situation,” emphasized Denys Uliutin, minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine. “In just one week, the Dodomu platform has already been visited by over 10,000 users from more than 10 countries, including Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where the largest numbers of Ukrainians are currently located.”
“People are the main driving force behind Ukraine’s recovery. That is why supporting the voluntary return of Ukrainians and their successful reintegration requires not only access to reliable information and quality government services, but also close cooperation between the state, communities, and international partners,” added Katrin Buchholz, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. “The Dodomu platform consolidates these elements, creating conditions for well-informed decisions and making an important contribution to Ukraine’s social recovery.”
During the workshop, participants jointly developed recommendations for improving community profiles on the platform, preparing regions for the return of Ukrainians, and creating local mechanisms to involve people in regional development.
“We will share this feedback with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, the YOUA project, and the platform developers to further improve the digital tool,” concluded Alla Krasovska.
The Strengthening Community Resilience for Return and Reintegration project is implemented by the Rokada Charitable Foundation within the framework of the YOUA – Shaping New Paths, Building the Future of Ukraine project, commissioned by the German Government and implemented by GIZ Ukraine: Sustainable Economic Development.
The YOUA project provides technical assistance only and does not influence individuals personal decisions regarding their return to Ukraine. Participation in events and the use of services are strictly voluntary and intended solely for individuals considering return, those who have already made such a decision, or those currently undergoing reintegration after returning to Ukraine.
