Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Bilotserkivka municipality of the Poltava region has taken in more than a thousand internally displaced persons. This is the seventh part of the total population of the municipality. Local residents, entrepreneurs and "U-LEAD with Europe" helped the authorities cope with this influx of people. Now more than 700 IDPs live in the municipality on a permanent basis. All of them have successfully integrated and are working for a common future, said Ivan Leshchenko, head of the village of Bilotserkivka.

"Our municipality consists of 29 settlements. Compared to other TGs, it is quite small - the population reaches about 6 thousand people. But with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the number of people increased - from the first days of March, people began to arrive to us from regions where active hostilities continued. In general, we managed to receive more than a thousand people from different parts of the country, 770 of them remained in the municipality," says Leshchenko.

According to the official, the first days of March were difficult for the municipality: there was a lack of basic hygiene products and food and vague understanding of the future strategy. Municipality residents and businessmen helped the local authorities with products, and representatives of U-LEAD with Europe helped with the strategy and the action plan.

"Since February 24, the U-LEAD with Europe Programme has once again come to the aid of our municipality. Initially, it was support with relevant training, advice on how to work during this period. Later, material assistance was added to the theoretical and advisory assistance. In particular, we received the aid package "Shelter" aimed at improving the living conditions of temporarily displaced persons," adds the village head.

In order to improve the living conditions of temporarily displaced persons, community representatives received a "Shelter" aid package from U-LEAD with Europe, which includes a tent, camping beds, sleeping bags, blankets, a water tank, a generator, basic and hygiene kits for IDPs.

Thanks to this help, the municipality deployed a mobile tent city, which actually turned into a transit hub for displaced people. People can stay there for a few days, rest and decide on further plans.

At the same time, the resettled people who decide to stay in Bilotserkivka municipality are provided with jobs and the opportunity to work for the benefit of the local community: at local enterprises or providing their own services.

"Narrowly specialized professionals settled in some villages: seamstresses, hairdressers, massage therapists. We gave them the opportunity to work in the municipality, provide their services to local residents and earn money. And everyone is satisfied, everyone is happy and ready to stay in our municipality," shares Ivan Leshchenko.

He also added that the leadership of the Belotserkivka municipality does not abandon the plans that were announced before February 24. Even during the war, the municipality does everything possible to bring the construction of the industrial park closer and increase the housing stock.

"Today our municipality lives, works and, I am sure, will continue to work. It is clear that the war deprives us of many chances and opportunities, restrains our plans, which we wanted to implement already this year. But we will certainly implement them, we will just postpone them," Mr. Leshchenko assures.