Initiative: Return to Life

Location: Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad Oblast (region)

Year: 2019-2020

Website: http://returntolife.org.ua/ (in Ukrainian)

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToLife.UA/ (in Ukrainian)

Return to Life provides social services to young people. The organization focuses mainly on the prevention of substance abuse and the spread of HIV/AIDS by creating opportunities for meaningful leisure activities. This was mainly done through a low-threshold youth club called the VIP-bunker – the only facility of this type in the regional (oblast) capital of Kropyvnytskyi. Preventive programs and leisure activities were organized with the active involvement of volunteers – for example, a dance group was formed. The club also provided free-of-charge consultations by a psychologist and a social worker.

Unfortunately, the private owner of the space decided to end the VIP-bunker’s lease, so the organization, with the support of NESEHNUTÍ, launched a campaign for the city to provide a space for a new low-threshold club. Primarily thanks to the negotiations with the city's representatives and the media response, it was possible to obtain at least the promise of using one of the city’s premises. At the same time, the initiative managed to obtain a space for the establishment of a similar club in the nearby town of Znamyanka.