Systematic negotiations with the authorities, launching of the Door-to-Door Campaign, holding of general meetings for the residents of the house, periodic disputes and conflicts. Despite the challenges, the results of the cooperation between the All-Ukrainian Initiative “Active Community” in Drohobych city and the Initiative Group of the apartment building No. 4 on Kniahyni Olhy Street are impressive: new windows, partially repaired roof and pedestrian area, new stairs, beacons on wall cracks, the mural on the entrance door, windowsills decorated with flowers. Moreover, so many things are still on the roadmap! Svitlana Kliui, the communication coordinator of Drohobych city of Lviv Oblast, speaks about her path to public activity.

– How was the Initiative Group created? How did it all start?

– It all started when I, being the coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Initiative “Active Community”, decided to create an initiative group to make the residents more active, and that idea immediately made me think about my house, though I realised that, in addition to the benefits, it also involved risks which I could predict back then. I have lived in this house for 8 years, and since the Euromaidan protests I have been trying to do something myself: I started with the site improvement and the refurbishment of the entrance hall, and I continue the work in this field.

– What difficulties arose when the initiative group started working?

–    In February 2020, we launched the Door-to-Door Company together with Olena Yurkevych, the regional coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Initiative “Active Community” in Drohobych city. In the meantime, we found out that the Mayor’s Office allocated a part of the budget finds for the replacement of windows in apartment buildings. That autumn we had already replaced all the windows in my section of the building: the residents chipped in 400 hryvnias, and the remaining 50% were added by deputies. Why not use such a great opportunity and replace the windows in other entrance halls? Therefore, we discussed that suggestion with the residents of the house. During the Door-to-Door Campaign, 30 apartments out of 70 have been interviewed within two days. We asked the residents about everything what bothered them, what they would like to change in the building and around it. The next step was to gather the initiative group. We drafted appropriate letters on the needs of the house, got 50 signatures for each of them and went directly to the mayor. At first, everything went well: interviewing, gathering of signatures. Nevertheless, from the very beginning I felt the presence of the human factor and realised that the negative side of things could also show itself. I am an emotional person, I always say everything frankly, and since that was the Active Community initiative group, we tried to communicate with everybody as courteously and tactfully as possible. Anyway, there are always people who complain about everything: the government is bad, nobody does anything, why is it necessary to collect money, etc. We also met such people. Even more, some residents spread rumours that I was a “pro-government activist” or do that all to become a deputy. Although a year ago I strongly criticised the mayor, experience had shown that it does not make sense, it is necessary to cooperate. When you communicate with someone, when you meet someone halfway and do not act on principle of “door kicking”, then, not from the thirst attempt and not from the third one, but in the end you will manage to establish contact and get your voice heard, and the problem will be solved. I think, all activists eventually reach this wise conclusion.

– What issues does the initiative group deal with?

– I created a group chat in Viber, it consists of about 30 persons. When implementing the Door-to-Door Campaign we asked people about the windows, and they expressed the wish to replace the windows in their entrance halls because they knew that in my section there were new windows. However, they did not know how to do it, and we explained it and told them how important it was to join the collection campaign. When implementing that campaign, I and other residents also raised the issues of repairing the roof, windows, sewers, basements, pedestrian paths, as well as the issue of the restoration of chimneys that were actually ruined. Now they are being repaired. For 30 years, the pedestrian area at our entrance doors and the steps by the road have not been properly repaired. When it was raining heavily, the building was being eroded by rainwater on both sides. The sidewalks were ruined, and it was necessary not only to make the proper pedestrian area but also to place the water barrier. I discusses that with the local authorities. Since we had no money, I suggested at least digging in high curbs along the perimeter to prevent cars from driving on the lawns and prevent rainwater from flowing to the building. After all, the pedestrian path adjacent to one side of the house was repaired. This year, we also repaired the twist in the path from the other side of the house and protected the building from water flows with an arc. Last autumn, I found a crack in the wall under my flat. Bearing in mind the tragedy that had happened in Drohobych in the building No. 101 on Hrushevskoho Str., I realised that something needed to be done. By the way, I helped to maintain the 101st building as much as I could, I volunteered for a month and a half. A couple of months after I had noticed that crack I wrote an application to the authorities, specialists came to my flat and installed beacons on that crack. The replacement of the windows was not 100% free, there had to be a small fee. The mayor likes to repeat the phrase: “If the community makes a nominal financial contribution, he is all for it and is always ready to meet everybody halfway.” We were offered to collect 150 hryvnias from each resident and transfer it to the official account of the Housing Management Office. The payment was credited as the “donation from the residents for the windows”. Everything was transparent and official. Of course, it took a while to discuss everything with the residents and to collect money. However, after all, working together we replaced windows in three entrance halls.

–    Do the residents of your section support you?

– For some reason, I always thought that the residents there are not that united and so are weak. However, somehow everything changed, the neighbours joined forces, became friends, created another group chat in Viber for the needs of our section.

–    Have you ever thought about creation of an association of co-owners of an apartment building?

–    We have considered it. However, I am adamantly opposed to separating only our house. I thought about establishment of a kind of an agglomeration – the Street Council. It was an idea to unite all the Khrushchev-era apartment blocks located on our street, to create a powerful group, to attract financing, investments, to apply for projects financed from the public budget. Now it is just a dream, and it is necessary to brace energies to fulfill it. The residents of the neighbouring houses already know us; they have expressed a wish to cooperate with us, to be on friendly terms and work together, but I am concerned due to the crack in my house. We do not know what is going to happen to the building and what the future holds. The building that collapsed in Drohobych was on the balance sheet of the Housing Management Office. Now the authorities buy the last apartments for the residents. However, if it had belonged to an association of co-owners of an apartment building, would the state be so caring when it came to recovery of damages?

–    What are the plans of your initiative group for the nearest future?

– We are painting the entrance doors. The idea arose at night, spontaneously. I saw a post on Facebook by a Kherson artist, and there was a picture of the painting on the entrance door. I immediately wrote to an acquaintance of mine, a woman artist who painted murals in Drohobych, and asked her how much would it cost. She replied that she would be happy to launch a social initiative to create such photo zones and murals around the city. Olena Yurkevych and I decided to specify that the initiative was supported by Active Community and to make a mark to show that our activists lived there, to make it a kind of a label. There is also an idea to start a photo contest “My yard” or that focusing on the general success achieved by a community. Each month we will choose three winners and give them a mural on a wall or on a door. It is also planned to finish the door hood above the entrance. I am also planting flowers on windowsills.

Note. The mission of Active Community Initiative: to achieve prosperity through the democratic development of Ukrainian communities. The goal set for 2025: to activate at least 1% of the citizens and to involve them in decision-making process and promotion of reforms in Ukraine on a systemic basis for prosperity of Ukrainian communities. This initiative was established as a part of the activities of the Institute Republica. We work to increase the conscious activity of citizens.

Author: the Head of the Press Service of the All-Ukrainian Initiative “Active Community”  Tetiana Kavunenko