SYLA Project: Together with Communities on the Path to Resilience
In June, the Ukrainian Red Cross team, together with its partners, conducted field visits to the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv regions.
These visits were part of the SYLA project, which aims to strengthen local emergency response mechanisms. The project is being implemented by the Ukrainian Red Cross in partnership with Danish Red Cross, German Red Cross, Acted and IMPACT Initiatives, with financial support from the European Union.
After Ukraine joined the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in 2023, the country adopted a strategic approach to decentralising its emergency response system. From now on, the first line of defence is the local community — those who face the immediate impacts of war, natural disasters, or man-made threats. This is precisely the transformation the SYLA project seeks to support.
The main areas of work include:
- Training volunteer fire brigades in communities and providing them with the necessary equipment
- Delivering training in first aid, mine safety, psychological first aid, and teamwork
- Developing protocols for coordination between communities, local authorities, and the State Emergency Service
- Supplying specialised equipment, including communication devices, protective gear, motor pumps, tankers, and more
- Assessing community risks and vulnerabilities
- Conducting information campaigns, including providing educational materials for children and teenagers
- Organising joint training exercises involving both communities and the State Emergency Service
During meetings with representatives of local authorities, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and regional military administrations, the practical implementation of the SYLA project on the ground was discussed. Topics included the launch of training initiatives, threat assessments, and the formation of local response teams.
The SYLA project is designed to develop and support:
- Communities’ ability to act confidently and cohesively
- The state’s trust in local initiatives
- International partners’ confidence in Ukraine as a country capable of implementing European approaches, even in times of war
Together, we are bringing closer the moment when every community in Ukraine will know how to respond in an emergency and have everything they need to do so.
Safe communities are our shared goal.
