On 25 March 2009 the opening ceremony of the first local community project, implemented in the framework of all-Ukrainian EU/UNDP CBA Project, was held in Severynivka village Zhmerynsky rayon Vinnytska oblast. Senior program manager Oksana Remiga, acting Head of Zhmerinska Rayon Council Yuriy Danylyuk, village head of Severynivka village Olexander Khrystyuk and representatives of the community that implemented the micro-project participated in the ceremony.

School pupils were also present at the ceremony and suppress joy from a new purchase, so far as some of them had to walk 6 km to get to school. In his speech acting Head of Rayon State Administration specified: “In communities that started cooperation with the Project we observe great change in the attitude to life in general and in relations with authorities in particular. Before the project implementation we could call it ‘consumers’ attitude’, when communities came and demanded funding; now they come with suggestions for cooperation”.

Implemented by community Moya Severynivka project School Bus is one of first completed community projects and was funded by European Union and the CBA Project (50 000 grn.), Vinnytska Oblast State Administration (49 690 grn.), Zhmerynska Rayon State Administration and Rayon Council (45 000 grn.), and community organization Moya Severynivka (8 000 grn.). Total project cost is 152 690 grn. The community started the project implementation in August 2008. The organization counts 48 members who represent leaders of public opinion. In the process of discussion and further planning the community members decided to give the priority to initiating a municipal school bus route for more than 50 children from two remote villages of Severynivka territorial community. To establish the community organization, it participated in competitions and programmes that enabled the CO to attract additional funds and realize 2 projects aimed at improving living conditions.

40 more projects focused around energy saving, environment, water supply and local transportation are to be realized in Vinnytska oblast. All of the projects are initiated and being implemented by communities of Bershadsky, Murovanokurylovetsky, Trostyanetsky, Tyvrivsky, Teplytsky, Zhmerynsky, Khmilnytsky, and Orativsky rayons.

In February 2009 projects School bus were realized in 2 more pilot communities, namely, communities of Severynivka village (Zhmerinsky rayon) and Florino village (Bershadsky rayon). In February 2009 60% of the rest 6 projects implementation is completed.
For further information about the state of the Project implementation in Vinnytska oblast, please contact:
in Vinnytsa town: Natalya Gyzhko and Oleg Levchenko, CBA Community development Assistants in Vinnytska oblast. Tel. (+380 50) 416 3724; E-mail: oleg.levhenko@undp.org or nataliia.guzhko@undp.org or the Project central office: Ganna Yatsyuk, CBA Project Communications Specialist, at tel./fax: (+380 44) 502 1197, E-mail: ganna.yatsyuk@undp.org.ua