Decentralisation in our country continues. More and more cities, villages and urban-type settlements amalgamate for the sake of development, creation of comfortable living conditions and revival of territories. The territory of AHs on the map of the Chernihiv Oblast covers already more than fifty percent, more and more settlements decide on AH establishment or accession to an existing one. Success stories of the neighbours, and examples from abroad contribute to this process a lot, and study visits to already established AHs are especially useful in this regard.

The Chernihiv Local Government Development Centre, established with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme and MinRegion, organised a study visit of the representatives of the Ripky, Chernihiv and Mena Rayons to the Mykhailo-Kotsyubynska hromada. The participants of the visit include the heads and secretaries of village councils, who are still considering the decision to amalgamate. Besides, the trip was joined by the journalists.

The Mykhailo-Kotsyubynska AH pays a lot of attention to landscaping and amenities. A separate collection of garbage is also introduced here, special containers for collecting glass and plastic are installed on the territory of settlements.

Much has already been done in the settlements that are part of the hromada. Lighting is installed, educational and cultural institutions are repaired, roads are being slowly restored and projects written. At the beginning of the year, the AH development strategy, written with the support of the Chernihiv LGDC experts, was approved.

The AH leaders are now working to establish a fully-fledged Administrative Service Centre (with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme). A Social Service Centre was opened in the village council. 20 employees were employed, for whom the uniform and and bicycles were purchased. Besides, the AH is thinking on restoring the work of the geriatric care centre for the elderly people, that used to work in the premises of the hospital.

Since the very first days of its official existence, the AH has established a department of education, culture and sports, and has taken educational institutions into subordination. The participants of the trip visited the Mykhailo-Kotsyubynske gymnasium, which became the hub school. Hromada is most proud of the first in the oblast ultra-modern football field with an artificial surface of 44x22 m in size, which was opened in June.

The highlight of the Mykhailo-Kotsyubynska AH is the creation of its chronicle.

The chronicle of the hromada and each of its villages is a large book with chapters. There is an electronic version, but people here believe that the printed book is something to show the guests. In addition to mentioned events and achievements, honoured guests and well-known people, who visit the hromada, leave their signatures in the chronicle.

There is a successful example of green tourism development in the hromada, namely the “Andiyivski Lakes” manor.

The full version is available in Ukrainian – please click HERE