Ukrainian NGO Repair Together sets up international reconstruction camp with hundreds of volunteers to rebuild Ukrainian villages

The International Construction Camp is actively working in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region to rebuild housing destroyed by Russian aggression. 

The Ukrainian NGO Repair Together, known for its community work, set up the project that will last three months until October 10 and hold master classes, concerts, and other events, Rubryka reports.

What is the problem?

In the course of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, almost 4,500 residential buildings, about 550 educational institutions, more than a hundred medical institutions, and even more than a thousand cultural sites were destroyed.

"Russian world" also wiped out several cities of Ukraine: only ruins remained in their place, the "liberation" of which is triumphantly announced by Kremlin propagandists. Some settlements will no longer be rebuilt.

What is the solution?

Repair Together has been engaging volunteers to restore destroyed villages for over a year. Currently, their efforts are concentrated in the Chernihiv region.

How does it work?

To date, volunteers have already rebuilt seven completely destroyed houses, repaired another 20 with their efforts, and coordinated the repairs and restoration of 49 with the involvement of international funds. More than 170 damaged houses in 19 villages were cleaned, and more than 4,000 volunteers were involved in various reconstruction activities.

The center of the organization's activity is now a construction camp in Lukashivka, where Ukrainian and foreign volunteers are involved. In three months, the organizers plan to build at least nine settlements on the site of destroyed houses in the Ivanovo community, Chernihiv region. Volunteers will work under the supervision and guidance of professional builders.

Participation in the camp is free. The only restriction for participants is age 18+. Volunteers will receive a tented camp with all the necessary conditions, like food, shower, Starlink with the Internet, and leisure time.

In addition to reconstruction, a series of cultural workshops, film screenings, networking, and other activities will be held for the participants. Any of the participants can stay in the camp for two days to three months.

In addition to the actual work on the restoration of Ukraine, the following activities are planned or have already taken place in the camp:

• Open-air movie screenings of Ukrainian films: The Earth Is Blue as an Orange, My Thoughts are Silent, Mustache Funk, Ukrainian Sheriffs, Singing Ivano-Frankivsk Teplocommunergo.
• Concerts: performance of comedians Sasha Kyivskyi and Slava Bu; concert party and DJ Perfect match set; concert Chocollab, Lugovskiy; Cepasa band concert; Andrii Barmalii's concert; a concert of the band Viltse; performance by artist Chuprinenko; performance and dance master class by the band Two-Three.

The assortment includes excursions to Chernihiv and master classes in 3D printing, cooking, silk-screen printing, yoga, and music.

"The equipment of the camp, accommodation, and the organization of the cultural program for three months are financed by USAID. Materials for the construction are provided by the Charity Fund Help Ukraine and the Polish Humanitarian Action, and other construction costs are planned to be covered by foreign donations," the organizers say.

With the help of the camp, Repair Together plans to establish a closer relationship with Ukrainians who want to rebuild the country with their own hands and with foreigners who are not indifferent to Ukraine's problems. So far, 224 people have registered to participate, including 53 foreigners. Repair Together plans to receive up to a thousand volunteers.

You can register for the camp through the Telegram bot. It is better to follow other announcements on Instagram about the project.

Since August 1, the Diia give portal began accepting applications for compensation for housing destroyed due to the war. One thousand four hundred nine applicants received financial assistance for the minor repair of housing damaged due to Russia's armed aggression under the eRecovery program. More than 115 million hryvnias were credited to the accounts of the applicants.