Victoria Bozhko was born in the Zaporizhzhia region, but since 2005 her life has been connected with Mariupol: she got her education, worked in trade, started a family business, and gave birth to two daughters.
Viktor Sinatkin had a travel agency and planned to live and build his future in Mariupol.
During the occupation of Mariupol, Viktor and Victoria moved to Zaporizhzhia, where they met in May 2022 at a gathering of Mariupol residents. After some time, they decided to build a life together. Their story is told by Skhidnyi Variant.
In April 2023, the couple moved to the village of Voynivka in the Pryiutivska community in the Kirovohrad region. With his active stance, Viktor headed the Council on Internally Displaced Persons of the Pryiutivska community, and Viktoria became his deputy. The work was voluntary, without funding. Over time, it became clear that a different format was needed to provide systematic assistance to displaced persons — a public organization that could attract resources and grant support.
This is how the public organization "23rd MICRODISTRICT" came into being, named after the microdistrict of Mariupol where Victoria had lived most of her life. After losing her home, this name became the starting point for a new venture.
The decision to create the organization was made based on practical experience working in the IDP Council, which made it possible to identify the real needs not only of internally displaced persons, but also of local community residents.
The 23 MICRORAYON team is a combination of displaced persons and local residents with different experiences but a common motivation, working toward the goal of community development, support for vulnerable groups, and the implementation of socially significant initiatives. The organization has gradually built partnerships with other civil society organizations and foundations and is currently working on its own development strategy.
The main focus of the organization's work is the development of civil society, social inclusion, and support for various population groups — IDPs, military families, people with disabilities, youth, and the elderly — through the implementation of projects and public initiatives.
Art therapy, master classes, and sessions with a psychologist are held for children, while adult IDPs receive legal advice, information support, assistance with documents, joint events for IDPs from different communities, cultural events, photo exhibitions, and integration initiatives with the support of partners.
For Viktor and Viktoria, the journey from Mariupol to the Pryiutivska community became not only a story of loss, but also an experience of responsibility. What began as a personal desire to be useful grew into systematic work with people who found themselves in similar circumstances. "23 MICRODISTRICT" became an example of how the memory of home can be transformed into action.
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