In the modern world, where decentralization strengthens the role of communities, the Charter becomes a key instrument of people's power. To understand its modern significance and the needs of the community, we spoke with Nadiia Palosh – Deputy Head of the Zarichany Village and co-coordinator of the working group for the development of the Zarichany Village Territorial Community Charter project.
What concerns the Zarichany community: from security to investments
Our interview began with a discussion of the most pressing issues concerning the residents of Zarichanshchyna.
“Today, the residents of the Zarichany Territorial Community are most concerned about security and support for servicemen and their families, creating new jobs, developing local businesses, and attracting investments,” notes Ms. Nadiia. “Important for the community are supporting youth, creating opportunities for their self-realization, improving settlements, environmental protection, and attracting grant funds for the implementation of development projects.” This list clearly demonstrates the multifaceted challenges the community faces, while also outlining potential directions for reflection in the Charter.
Civic Engagement: Between Enthusiasm and the Challenges of Time
Turning to the issue of residents' participation in community life and the state of local democracy, Nadiia Vasylivna noted both positive trends and existing obstacles.
“Residents of the Zarichany Territorial Community generally take an active part in public life, especially in addressing issues of urban improvement, supporting educational institutions, conducting charitable and volunteer activities, and assisting the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” says the deputy head.
She also named key factors hindering fuller citizen engagement: “...limited free time due to employment in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and labor migration; the consequences of martial law, which have changed the priorities of many citizens; insufficient level of civic activity among certain categories of the population; the belief of some residents that their opinion cannot always influence decision-making.” This shows that to increase the level of local democracy, targeted efforts are needed for informing, simplifying procedures, and building trust.
The Charter of the Future: Unifying, Inclusive, Effective
The central theme of our conversation was the vision for the future Community Charter. “We aim for the Charter to become a document that unites the community,” emphasizes Nadiia Vasylivna. “So that every resident knows how to get involved in solving local issues, and the authorities have clear and transparent rules for interacting with people. This is the foundation of trust, partnership, and shared responsibility for the community's future. After all, a strong community begins with active people who have the opportunity to be heard.”
Nadiia Vasylivna placed special emphasis on inclusivity and multi-channel communication. “The Charter must guarantee equal opportunities for all residents to participate in community life regardless of age, health status, or social status,” she emphasizes. “It is advisable to provide mechanisms for involving youth, veterans, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and representatives of national minorities in consultative and advisory bodies, public discussions, working groups, and local initiatives.”
Effective communication is extremely important for the Zarichany community. “For the Zarichany community, it is advisable to include the principle of ‘multi-channel communication’ in the Charter,” explains Ms. Nadiia. “This means that important issues can be discussed simultaneously through: personal meetings in starostyn districts; the official community website; official social media pages; electronic consultations and surveys; messengers or other communication channels used by the community.”
The Community of the Future: Vision and the Role of the Charter
Reflecting on the future of the Zarichany community, Nadiia Vasylivna Palosh paints a clear and inspiring picture: “The Zarichany community is a modern, cohesive, and self-sufficient community where it is comfortable to live, work, study, and raise children.” She is convinced that the Charter plays a key role in achieving this vision: “The Charter must become an effective instrument that will contribute to the sustainable development of the community and improve the quality of life of its residents.” Only such a Charter, created on the principles of openness and taking into account the opinions of residents, can become a true instrument of real people's power.
The project “Community Charter as an Instrument of Real People's Power” is implemented by CAHR “Vested” jointly with the Faculty of Law of UzhNU, the Research Institute of Fundamental and Applied Research of European Territorial Cooperation, and NGO “Grassroots Institute” in partnership with Uzhhorod, Irshava urban, Kamianka, and Zarichany rural territorial communities with the financial support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The material represents the position of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.