Flexible funding from GlobalGiving has enabled the NGO Pravo to continue its tradition of human rights advocacy in the Khmilnyk community

Publication date: August 13, 2025

Author: Yuliia Bilyk, Communications Manager, Legal Development Network

For over 15 years, the NGO Pravo has been providing legal assistance in the Vinnytsia region, particularly in the city of Khmilnyk and surrounding villages. After the full-scale invasion, it opened the Murashnik humanitarian hub, which became a safe and caring space for many displaced persons and local residents. Over time, “Murachnik” has grown into a resource center — perhaps the only place in the community whose doors are always open to children and adults who want to develop and participate in public life. Flexible funding from GlobalGiving helps “Pravo” continue its decades-long tradition of human rights protection and resource support.

Over the years, the work of Pravo has transformed and adapted to external conditions — in the state, community, and public sector. But no matter what happens — economic crisis, war, high competition for grant opportunities due to the suspension of USAID program funding — one thing remains unchanged: Pravo fulfills its mission. Moreover, it does so efficiently (and people know this), without the slightest interruption. What’s more, in times of challenges, uncertainty, and danger, the team works even harder, miraculously finding strength and resources within itself.

This was the case in the first months after the start of the full-scale war, when the organization launched a series of initiatives to help displaced persons, the community, and even pets. At that time, the Murashnyk Hub operated a “Bank of Cloth” — residents of Khmilnyk brought clothes and essential items that displaced persons could use, fed hundreds of domestic and stray animals, distributed vegetable seedlings, and donated medical equipment to rural clinics.

Now, three and a half years later, life in the Khmilnytskyi community has changed. Many people who came from areas close to the front lines have become locals, and all the locals have adapted to the reality of war in one way or another. With this in mind, the work of the NGO “Pravo” today consists of providing legal assistance to anyone who needs it, conducting legal awareness campaigns for a wide audience, providing expert support to local authorities, and working to promote the comprehensive development of various groups of people, based on their age and interests.

Legal assistance

“We started providing legal assistance back in 2010. Since then, people have gotten used to being able to contact our organization at any time. They know that they can come to the office, call, or write a request on Facebook Messenger and receive a qualified response,” says Vitaliy Dorokh, head of the NGO “Pravo.”

According to him, institutional support from GlobalGiving allows the organization’s team to feel more confident and implement initiatives systematically rather than on a volunteer basis.

Throughout June 2025, Pravo lawyers provided 80 legal consultations, 25 of which were to internally displaced persons. The topics of client requests vary greatly.

“People are concerned about ordinary everyday issues related to their lives. Topics related to the war — military service, discharge from service, return to service after military service — are also present, but they are not dominant,” notes Vitaliy Dorokh.

The head of the organization notes that the topics and number of requests fluctuate. Sometimes, changes in legislation can provoke a series of questions from citizens, to which they seek answers from Pravo specialists. Most of those who have ever contacted the NGO return again.

Legal education

In the field of legal education, as in legal counseling, there are periods of activity and periods of calm. Legal education events reflect the requests of the target groups with which Pravo works: from lectures for children and young people to relevant opportunities for adults.

“Once, a teacher who attended our events saw the names ‘Law’ and ‘Legal Development Network’ on the banners and, having a rough idea of what we do, asked Vitalii to give a lecture on ‘Introduction to Rights’. Then it went like this: one event after another, someone heard something, passed it on to others, and new requests appeared,” says Yulia Kilosova, coordinator of the Murashnyk Resource Center.

The beneficiaries of the NGO’s events also include representatives of local authorities, municipal institutions and organizations, and public organizations.

“The Veterans’ Space, the Center for Resilience, and the Khmilnytskyi Museum are all our visitors and partners. We have common ideas, projects, and events. At the request of government officials and the public, we conduct various training events — from project writing to the workings of electronic petitions and legislative changes, for example, regarding the activities of public organizations,” notes Vitaliy Dorokh.

In June, Murashnik hosted a legal awareness event dedicated to involving internally displaced persons in socially useful work as part of the state program “Army of Restoration.” The organizers familiarized the audience with the program’s opportunities, explained who could participate in this work, and what conditions must be met to participate.

Support for IDPs

According to the latest data, there are 4,590 internally displaced persons in the Khmilnytskyi community. This is almost half the number that was there at the start of the full-scale war. However, support for displaced persons remains one of the priorities of the NGO Pravo.

“In 2022, people who came to the community were accepted by kindergartens, sanatoriums, and even, if there was not enough space, they were accommodated in school gyms. Now the community is discussing whether it is necessary to create more compact living spaces for IDPs or not. After all, if there is such a request, it is not being voiced. It is unlikely that anyone wants to return to communal living as before. Perhaps it is worth considering creating conditions for displaced persons to purchase housing on preferential terms,” says Vitaliy Dorokh.

According to the head of the organization, prejudice prevents effective solutions in favor of IDPs.

“For some reason, there is a perception in society that displaced persons are people who need to be given something. Yes, there are those among them who have lost everything and have great material needs. But there are also those who need resource and advisory support: for example, how to restart their own business in the host community,” emphasizes Vitaliy Dorokh.

According to him, the immediate plans are to organize a round table with representatives of local authorities to discuss legislative innovations regarding the inventory of municipal housing that could potentially be provided to internally displaced persons.

The Restless Murashnyk

The Murachnik Resource Center is not only a 500 m² basement space that serves as a shelter and a place of resilience, but also a truly vibrant community center equipped with all the necessary resources.

“From chairs and tables to office equipment—we share all of this, as well as our expertise, with those who come to us at Murachnyk,” notes Vitaliy Dorokh.

The organization’s expertise is quite broad, as it includes the experience and strengths of each member of the Pravo NGO team. For example, Vitaliy Dorokh is an experienced teacher and trainer specializing in decision-making processes, regulatory support, anti-corruption public expertise, and more. Yulia Kilosova, the coordinator of “Murachnik,” specializes in conducting integration events. Lawyer Taras Koval is a practicing attorney. Communications manager Taras Nosalsky is responsible for software, service digitization, and information security. Organization expert Olena Chernyi is a city council deputy with expertise in accounting for non-profit organizations and land legislation.

As a point of invincibility, Murashnik is open all the time. Although its official working hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, with Sundays off, the center is always bustling, and events can take place until late in the evening.

Currently, there are 11 interest groups and clubs operating at “Murachnik”:

• “Women’s Circle”;
• children’s club;
• board game club;
• guitar club;
• chess club;
• cycling club “Khmilnyk on Pedals”;
• historical and local history club;
• Beadwork Club
• Crochet Club “Petelka”;
• Psychological Club “Youth Vibe of the Murashnyk”
• Film Club.

“We announce the events planned at Murashnyk on the resource center’s general Viber channel. There are also separate chats dedicated to individual clubs and circles. I write an announcement that an event is planned, what the topic will be, how many participants there can be, and those who are interested register for the event,” says Yulia Kilosova.

According to the coordinator, Murashnik tries to fill gaps that arise in the community’s social life. For example, during the summer, when schools are closed for vacation and the Children’s and Youth Creative Center is closed, the resource center provides leisure activities for children and young people. Currently, Murashnik is trying to reformat its work for the comfort of all members of the children’s club, as their number has grown significantly.

Sometimes residents of nearby villages join in the activities at Murashnik. Although there is always demand for participation, especially from young people, unfortunately there are problems with organizing transportation to the city of Khmilnyk. With its successful experience of covering the entire Vinnytsia region, for example, within the Kyiv Dialogue project, when teams of participants were selected to receive mini-grants for the development of their communities, the NGO Pravo sees potential in scaling up and expanding its influence. Therefore, the organization is constantly looking for ways to attract resources and is open to new opportunities.

This material was created by the Legal Development Network with the support of the international charitable platform GlobalGiving. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Legal Development Network.

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