The event brought together representatives of local IDP councils, public authorities, civil society organizations, and experts from different regions of Ukraine in Uzhhorod.

Anzhelika Bielova, President of Voice of Romni, joined a panel discussion dedicated to the integration of internally displaced persons into communities in Zakarpattia. Together with the forum participants, she discussed the current challenges faced by IDPs and explored practices and solutions that have already shown positive results in communities.

For Voice of Romni, this topic is especially close to our work. Every day, we support people who have been forced by the war to leave their homes and familiar lives behind and look for new opportunities for themselves and their families. Behind every story of internal displacement are difficult challenges: finding housing and employment, accessing medical, social, and administrative services, enrolling children in educational institutions, and, most importantly, feeling part of a new community.

We have heard thousands of such stories and have a deep understanding of the needs of people going through this journey. At the same time, our organization has also experienced relocation: after the start of the full-scale invasion, the main office of Voice of Romni moved from Zaporizhzhia to Uzhhorod. This experience helps us better understand the process of adapting to a new environment and the difficulties faced by people who are forced to start their lives over in a new place.

For more than six years, our team has been working with vulnerable communities in six regions of Ukraine and has gained a deep understanding of the barriers faced by internally displaced people. Over this time, we have also identified approaches and tools that genuinely help communities become more open and inclusive.

During the forum, we emphasized an important principle: decisions concerning IDPs must be made with the participation of IDPs themselves. People directly affected by these decisions must have the opportunity to be heard, take part in dialogue, and influence the processes that shape their present and future.

We are convinced that only through open dialogue, cooperation, and the meaningful involvement of internally displaced persons can we develop solutions that respond to the real needs of communities and support successful integration.

Voice of Romni will continue to contribute to discussions and initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and strengthening communities.