In Luhansk region, Zelenskyy got acquainted with implementation of "New Village" pilot project
During a working trip to the Luhansk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy got acquainted with the implementation of the pilot project, "New Village," in the Shulhyn territorial community.
The project is designed to make public services available to residents of each community, the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine reports.
It was launched in Shulhynka in June 2021, and the project was launched in the fall. There is a Center for Administrative Services, where you can get almost a hundred administrative services, a branch of "Nova Poshta," a pharmacy, a police station, a grocery store, a park, and playgrounds.
The President also got acquainted with the work of the first Center for Cultural Services for the Community in Ukraine, which was established to replace the old village club. Based on this Center, there is a new library, areas for training and seminars, an area with IT and robotics, indoor and outdoor cinemas.
All facilities within the "New Village" project in Shulhinka were created on the principles of accessibility and inclusivity for all categories of the population.
"Today we see the beginning of major and important reform for Ukraine. A year ago we traveled around Ukraine, saw the condition of our villages and settlements and what isn't there. It's easier to say what's there, and you can count it on your fingers. But for life, there is nowhere to realize their aspirations and spend the time right and feel in the village as great as in the capital or any city of our state. That is why the pilot is before you: the beginning of the reform of the Ukrainian countryside," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The head of state noted that this project would allow locals to receive about a hundred different services, including passports and pensions, and this should make their lives more comfortable and happier.
"I'm glad that people are satisfied with the constructed facility, and the entire area must be completely barrier-free and modern. I want to realize such facilities throughout Ukraine," he said.
The President thanked the organizations that supported the establishment of this Center.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, noted that this pilot project was implemented through the joint efforts of socially responsible business, including Nova Poshta, international partners such as USAID and UNDP humanitarian programs, newly formed territorial community and the Ministry of Reintegration. NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine also joined, thanks to which solar panels were installed to provide electricity to social institutions and benches with recharging stations for gadgets.
"The main thing is a new idea, the Center for Cultural Services, which changes the concept of 'village club.' There is an opportunity to study online, and you don't need to go to another city. Older people can come with their grandchildren, children study on a 3D printer, and older people read books or listen to a lecture," said Oleksii Reznikov. "The idea of reintegration is that we are stepping into Europe."
According to him, they plan to implement such projects in 11 rural communities of the Luhansk region, 21 communities of Donetsk region, 38 in the Kherson region, i.e. in communities located along the line of contact in Donbas and on the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea, and later, throughout Ukraine. It is planned to create about 1,060 such centers in all rural and urban communities.
Serhii Haidai, Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, noted that the Luhansk region was implementing many pilot projects, as almost all local community leaders were ready to get involved and work quickly on something new.
According to him, the road infrastructure is also being actively developed in the region. In particular, within the President's program, "Big Construction," 136 km of roads were repaired in the region in 2020, and 225 km of roads were repaired in 2021, and next year they plan to repair 288 km of roads.
Photo: OPU, Luhansk Regional State Administration, Democratic governance in Eastern Ukraine
