Chernivtsi* region of Ukraine has become one of the main destinations for people forced to flee the war. Currently, around 80,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are officially registered here, with 42,000 living in the city of Chernivtsi itself. This means that about one in seven residents of the community is a displaced person. People from frontline areas continue to arrive. The lack of donor funding — and consequently, the limited efficiency of hubs — in Ukraine is a systemic problem.

With the interactive database, PoruCH Platform**Play the City proposes a system that will equip active residents to self-organize a community based civic infrastructure.  ‘PoruCH’ works  as an interactive bulletin board where local residents and organizations freely share and access community services. From psychological support to co-working spaces, accommodation, creative classes, sports, interest clubs and basic goods—Poruch connects people through acts of civic generosity. This tool aims to strengthen community connections and helps make the hubs truly active and inclusive spaces.

Each color coded ball on the platform represents a unique service with a description and contact info. Simply log in to offer or browse services. Participation is voluntary, and service providers may decline requests at their discretion.

The list of services that public and other organizations of Chernivtsi are already ready to share include creative classes, seminars, trainings, courses for children and adults; psychological support; distribution of clothing, food and other essential goods; free accommodation for the most vulnerable residents of the community; use of coworking spaces with appropriate equipment and access to the Internet for learning and remote work; sports on appropriate equipment, including equipment adapted to the needs of people with disabilities; meetings based on interests: from a book club to volunteer activities.

For platform participants, this is, among other things, an opportunity to expand the contact base of partners and the possibility of image advertising. Since the services are provided on a volunteer basis, anyone who offers them reserves the right to refuse without giving any reason.

*Chernivtsi is one of three communities selected for  the ‘Communities at the Heart of Urban Changes’ initiative by Ro3kvit. Here, the AREAC team is implementing the Growth Spaces project — aimed at transforming shared public spaces into hubs for interaction between internally displaced people (IDPs) and local residents.

**PoruCH Platform is implemented  in collaboration with Ro3kvit, the Dutch urban planning studio Play the City and NGO AREAC in cooperation with the Municipal Institution ‘Youth Center of Chernivtsi Youth Residence’. Poruch means Nearby in Ukrainian language which refers to freely offered civic services by local residents in Chernivtsi neighborhoods.