Image by: Council of Europe Office in Ukraine
The City Councils of Zvyahel and Slavutych, with expert, methodological, and financial support from the Council of Europe, organized Ukraine’s first-ever Citizens’ Assemblies in late 2024. Held over three weekends between October and November, these historic gatherings brought together around 45 randomly selected residents in each municipality to deliberate on pressing local issues—urban public spaces in Zvyahel and household waste management in Slavutych.
These deliberations marked a milestone in democratic participation under extraordinary conditions. In Zvyahel, citizens co-developed a vision for revitalized urban spaces, launching eight initiative groups and a civil society organization to advocate for improvements. Their recommendations were formally approved by the City Council on December 19, 2024, during its 57th session, signaling a new era of citizen-government collaboration.
In Slavutych, participants generated concrete proposals to improve waste management systems, sparking both personal behavioral change and wider community awareness. Several participants began sorting waste at home and pledged to educate others, reinforcing the civic momentum created during the Assembly.
These assemblies not only produced actionable outcomes but also inspired ongoing civic engagement. Participants left with a renewed belief in their ability to shape their communities, even during times of national crisis.
To learn more, visit the official project page.
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