Give the person a fishing rod instead of fish! That’s the purpose of the new project of the Charitable Fund “Right to Protection” (R2P) which will be implemented in the Azov region. It is aimed at developing practical skills and knowledge of members of vulnerable groups, which in the long run will help improve their economic situation. After all, it is assumed that the project participants will be then able to find a job or start their own business in the future.

Why the Azov region?
The economy of the Azov region has suffered greatly as a result of an armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. On the one hand, there are signs of loss of regional and international markets, destroyed infrastructure, and changes in the functioning of the transport sector. On the other hand, a large number of internally displaced persons have settled here – people who have been forced to leave their homes and start their life from the beginning.
Therefore, for these territories, the issue of the social and economic integration of these citizens is extremely acute. That is why the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) together with its partner GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) launched a project aimed at improving the lives of people who found themselves in difficult life circumstances and require assistance. These are not only IDPs but also people over the age of 50, single parents, parents with many children, people with disabilities, and women.
As David Fuechtjohann, Director of the Project “Fostering Economic Participation of Vulnerable Groups Including IDPs in the Sea of Azov Region” at GIZ noted, the Ukrainian economy is facing an inevitable profound transformation – especially when it comes to the eastern part of the country. This poses many challenges for the region and its people.
“The Ukrainian economy, especially in the eastern part of the country, is facing a profound transformation that imposes many challenges for the region and its population. The conflict and the pandemic have further tightened the economic situation of the local population, especially of the vulnerable groups. We are glad to have now this cooperation between GIZ and R2P in place as I am convinced that this project and the experience of R2P in the region will equip members of vulnerable groups with the necessary business and entrepreneurial skills that are in demand nowadays in a modern market economy and that will improve their perspectives on the labor market.”
– said Mr. Fuechtjohann

What will the project participants get?
During the project implementation, R2P will conduct comprehensive training in digital and financial literacy, provide knowledge on the basics of business and self-employment. In addition, participants will be able to receive individual advice from a lawyer on labor and anti-discrimination legislation, finance, private enterprise, and taxation, and also the career counselor. There will be individual consultations and webinars on writing the CV, job search, internships, etc. Participants will also be able to get legal information on employment issues in the chatbot “Legal Advisor for IDPs” on any of the mentioned platforms: Viber, Facebook, and Telegram.
According to Nadiya Kovalchuk, Deputy President of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P), the new project implemented in partnership with GIZ will be a logical continuation of the organization’s activities in the region.

“Our team is constantly working hard to resolve the problems that have arisen in eastern Ukraine in connection with the conflict. This particular project aims to increase the economic inclusion of vulnerable people in the Azov region. Participants from Tokmak, Melitopol, Berdyansk, Mangush, Primorsk, and Mariupol will be invited to participate in the program. An open set of participants will be announced in the second decade of June. We are convinced that such programs, in the long run, can strengthen the ability of people with vulnerabilities to become involved in the local economy, ”
– said Ms. Kovalchuk.