Today, the communities of Donetsk region need joint efforts for recovery more than ever. For those who have temporarily lost their jobs, the state has created an opportunity not only to receive support but also to contribute to a common cause. For three years now, Ukraine has been implementing the state project “Recovery Army”, which enables people to engage in socially useful work — an important initiative that unites labor, assistance, and humanity.
Within the project, almost 35,000 referrals have already been issued in Donetsk region, including 9,800 referrals this year for temporarily unemployed Ukrainians and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Participants join activities such as arranging protective structures, unloading and packaging humanitarian aid, assisting people with disabilities, and performing other essential tasks.
This initiative not only supports the rebuilding of local communities but also provides participants with the opportunity to earn a salary of up to 16,000 UAH for a full month of work. In addition to financial support, participants gain valuable experience and new professional skills, which can become an important step toward permanent employment.
One of those who found her place in this project is Lyudmyla from Kramatorsk. After the beginning of the full-scale war, she lost her job but not her strength of spirit.
“Then I realized: if things are hard for me, someone nearby may be struggling even more. And I can help,” says Lyudmyla.
She joined the Ukrainian Red Cross team in Kramatorsk, where she initially worked as a volunteer.
When the organization signed an agreement on organizing socially useful work with the Kramatorsk branch of the Donetsk Regional Employment Service, Lyudmyla became one of the first participants of the “Recovery Army.”
Now her working day is filled with special care: she helps distribute humanitarian aid, keeps records of recipients, and maintains a clothing bank. These may seem like ordinary tasks, but for her they carry deep meaning.
“I am grateful to the Employment Service for its support. Now I not only have a job I love, but also a stable income, social insurance, and most importantly — the feeling that my work truly matters,” Lyudmyla shares.
Her supervisor, Yevheniia Avdiushkina, adds:
“Without the people engaged in socially useful work, we wouldn’t be able to help so many individuals. They are our reliable hands, heart, and support for the community.”
The “Recovery Army” project is not just temporary employment. It is an opportunity for unemployed individuals to join the country’s recovery, receive income and social guarantees, and remain active and needed within their communities.
🔹 More about the program: https://www.dcz.gov.ua/people/socialwork.
🔹 How to join? Contact a specialist of the Employment Service: https://t1p.de/rzryk.
📞 Donetsk Regional Employment Center hotline: 0-800-219-713
Join the recovery of Donetsk region! Every contribution matters.