Executive Director of Voice of Romni Alina Kusturova and Advocacy Advisor Zinaida Prokopenko took part in the Power-With Networking Event, organized by our partner organization Kvinna till Kvinna.

Two days of active discussion were devoted to the theme of upholding women’s rights — women who work every day toward change — and to the challenges Ukrainian society faces today.

“We discussed the findings of research on the Women, Peace and Security agenda and Ukraine’s recovery, examined the challenges posed by anti-gender sentiment and authoritarian trends — drawing, in particular, on Georgia’s experience — and worked through possible strategies for responding within the Ukrainian context,” says Alina Kusturova.

Participants reviewed research findings and worked together to find ways to ensure that women’s voices are genuinely taken into account in decisions shaping Ukraine’s future reconstruction.

Events like this make visible how different organizations face similar challenges, and how sharing experience becomes a vital form of mutual support.

Voice of Romni works directly with vulnerable communities. We communicate with those whose voices often go unheard and whose needs are often overlooked. That’s why gatherings like this matter so much for our organization — they’re a chance to bring information to decision-makers, to speak about the real challenges and conditions communities face, and to speak openly about what tends to go unsaid.

The third day of the event was devoted entirely to mental health, recovery, and self-care practices — an essential part of building resilience within civil society teams.

People who work for others every day often forget to care for themselves. A creative workshop, self-care practices, and conversations about mental health and recovery served as a reminder that team resilience begins with caring for every individual within it.

Thank you to Kvinna till Kvinna for creating this space for meaningful dialogue, new ideas, shared experience, support, and partnership.