Fix what's broken: Reintegration of veterans working in culture and education

The ongoing war in Ukraine has created a complex of humanitarian issues with far-reaching impact for individuals and society. The supported programs address these problems, following several lines:

• Veteran reintegration: Many veterans returning from the frontlines face difficulties in reintegration in civilian life and in finding meaningful employment, particularly in sectors like culture and education.
• Social unity and cultural resilience: The war has disrupted communities and caused deep divisions within Ukrainian society. The artistic community, in particular, has been impacted by displacement, trauma, and loss.
• Mental health crisis: The constant stress and trauma associated with the war have led to a significant increase in mental health issues among the population, especially for those working on the frontlines of the humanitarian response.

• Reintegration of veterans: By providing financial support, psychological assistance, networking opportunities, and professional development, we aim to support the professional and social reintegration of veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war who worked in the cultural and educational sectors before their military service.
• Reflecting home, migration, and refuge: We aim to create a community where connections between artists can be rebuilt and re-established through an artistic dialogue. We aim to raise awareness for the topic of rebuilding and fixing horizontal connections in Ukrainian communities through the prism of art and artistic activity. We aim to reflect existing tensions and probably to prevent new ones. We aim to combine and validate war experience in and outside Ukraine through common artistic works.
• Strengthening mental health: We aim to increase capacities and competencies of internally displaced persons and refugee cultural professionals and their organizations in working with integration and trauma, support networking and thereby contribute to a better unity of displaced cultural professionals in Ukraine and those in exile.

• Reintegration of veterans: The fellowship will allow veterans to take the time for professional and social orientation, rehabilitation, and restoration of their pre-war professional activities. There will be networking events as well as individual psychological support, art therapy in groups and legal assistance.
• Reflecting home, migration, and refuge: The program provides financial support for artistic productions and mobility. Furthermore, it facilitates meaninful connections and regular communication among the participants.
• Strengthening mental health: A forum with diverse speakers and interactive workshops has been organized. A sustainable professional community and network will be established which will work also after the project and promote the art therapy approach. Partnerships with local mental health organizations will be built.