Local Communities

After the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainian communities faced enormous challenges: destruction of infrastructure, lack of resources for medical, educational, and social institutions, and an increased need for humanitarian aid and public support.

Small towns and villages became especially vulnerable – due to limited funding and the redirection of resources toward supporting the military, many local initiatives remained unrealized, leaving residents with few opportunities to improve their environment.

To support people on the ground and strengthen the social resilience of regions, Kernel, an agro-industrial company (LLC “Kernel-Trade”, hereinafter referred to as Kernel), introduced a new partnership format combining the efforts of business and communities to achieve real change.

Thus, at the end of 2024, the project “My Community Together with Kernel” was launched – an initiative that empowers residents to independently initiate important community projects, attract co-funding, and implement change together with the “Together with Kernel” Charity Foundation (Kernel’s social arm created for effective implementation of community projects in the company’s regions of presence).

The idea behind the project is to teach communities to become co-creators of solutions rather than just recipients of aid. Each participant could propose a development idea, contribute part of the funds or resources, and receive the remaining financing from Kernel.

Geography of 2024 implementation:

• Poltava

• Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad region

• Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi region

• Chornomorsk, Odesa region

• Myhiivska and Syniukhinobridska communities, Mykolaiv region

To ensure transparency, the project used the fundraising online platform of its partner NGO “My City” – https://mycity.one/crowdfunding/completed, where communities could register their projects, monitor funding progress, and report on results. The NGO My City and the Kernel team provided training, consulting support, and information assistance at every stage.

“We believe that the best changes come where people take responsibility for their community. Kernel only helps them unite their efforts and resources,” – noted the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Kernel, Director of the “Together with Kernel” Charity Foundation.

Despite wartime challenges – material shortages, logistical difficulties, and security restrictions – all initiatives were successfully implemented thanks to the synergy of community members, Kernel, My City NGO, and local authorities.

The year 2024 became a landmark for “My Community Together with Kernel”, showing the following results:

• 33 supported initiatives across five regions of Ukraine;

• Over 336,000 beneficiaries directly impacted by project results;

• Total budget – over 6 million UAH;

• 673,779 UAH raised by community initiative groups within one month.

Key areas of implemented initiatives:

Education and youth development (15): creation of modern school spaces, renovation and modernization of schools and kindergartens, provision of equipment, and launch of an educational YouTube channel.

Leisure and sports (8): installation of children’s and sports playgrounds, recreation zones, a barrier-free sports area, and a social café.

Social support and inclusion (3): rest rooms for veterans, an adaptation studio for children with Down syndrome, and a veterans’ hub.

Ecology and innovation (5): greening of public areas, alternative energy street lighting, and equipment for eco-clubs and a museum.

Healthcare (2): purchase of medical equipment.

Total: 33 implemented initiatives.

Each project became not only a tangible improvement but also a symbol of trust and unity. The initiative proved that even during wartime, Ukrainian communities can mobilize resources, build partnerships, and achieve visible results.

Community initiative groups turned into active local centers of social innovation. They received an effective tool – crowdfunding – to independently address local issues and realize their ideas.

Without this project, dozens of important community initiatives would have remained unrealized. Instead, the program has become a model of sustainable local development, which Kernel plans to scale to new regions in 2026.

This initiative is a powerful example of how Ukrainian business continues to build strong communities and strengthen the nation – together, even in times of war.