People Who Drive Change: How “My City” Hosted a Two-Day Gathering in Kyiv
Events
On April 25–26 in Kyiv, the team of the NGO “My City” brought together people who don’t wait for change — they create it. This two-day gathering united change-makers, businesses, donors, and media representatives — those who are already taking action or looking for more effective ways to act together. The event combined two formats: learning and interaction. The first day focused on reflecting on experience and exploring new tools, while the second centered on connection-building and relationships that can grow into lasting partnerships.
In a world where we are surrounded by an endless flow of information, it can be difficult to find not only what matters, but also “your people.” That is why we intentionally chose an offline format — a space where people can meet in person, truly hear one another, and discover shared ground for collective action.
Day One: Experience You Can Put Into Practice
On the first day, participants reflected on their own experiences with crowdfunding — what works, what doesn’t, and how to make this tool truly effective for developing initiatives.
A key focus was on expert-led conversations.
Anna Nishnianidze, co-founder of Philanthropy in Ukraine, spoke about the capacity of change-makers — how to measure it, and why it determines whether an initiative can grow systematically.
Yuliia Semenikhina, PR Manager at Chance4peace, shared approaches to communicating with international audiences — how to frame a project’s story so that it resonates beyond the Ukrainian context and helps attract support.
Tetiana Staneva, film producer, journalist, and ambassador of Bessarabia, spoke about developing local projects — how to stay rooted in your context while remaining visible to a broader audience.
This day provided both knowledge and a sense of grounding — an understanding that even complex processes can be structured and strengthened.
Day Two: Stories That Connect
The second day was about people and their stories. It was moderated by Anastasiia Tkachenko, a Ukrainian comedian who created a warm and open atmosphere for conversation.
The event opened with remarks from Viktoriia Zatsnova, Head of “My City”:
“As an organization, we have been operating for 10 years, during which we have raised over 79 million UAH for social projects. However, the biggest boost in our work came after the COVID-19 pandemic and with the start of the full-scale war. Of this amount, more than 16 million UAH was raised through crowdfunding — in small contributions of 10, 20, or 30 hryvnias. Our team has also leveraged over 13 million UAH in co-funding through partnerships with businesses and international donors. We strive to support projects and provide additional funding, transforming individual donations into a shared resource, initiatives into implemented projects, and trust into long-term collaboration.”
The floor was then given to the change-makers themselves. In a PechaKucha-style format — just a few minutes to share what matters most — participants presented their initiatives, including:
- ReBone (Charitable Foundation “Tycho”) — personalized implants for injured soldiers, helping them return to full lives.
- LitSlamUa — an anthology of wartime youth poetry from Kharkiv’s underground scene.
- Charitable Foundation “A Little Fire” — creativity as a tool for recovery.
- NGO “Historical Platform” — the project “Unbreakable Forever” on preserving memory and identity.
- “Ukrainian Network for Children’s Rights” — the initiative “Free Children — Free Dreams.”
- Charitable Foundation “Prince Sviatoslav the Brave Regiment” — the “Brave Space” for supporting veterans.
- NGO “GAR” — the project “Barrier-Free Western Ukraine.”
- “Kharkiv Foundation for Psychological Research” — hospital clowning as a form of support.
Between presentations, participants continued conversations through networking sessions. This is where new connections were formed. Businesses discovered initiatives they could trust. Donors met teams worth investing in. Change-makers found one another.
The highlight of the day was a live podcast recording with Iryna Hrytsaienko, CEO of Zagoriy Foundation. The discussion explored the importance of research in the social sector, the time required to implement meaningful change, and how social initiatives can build strong relationships with businesses.
The event marked the beginning of new connections and potential partnerships. The “My City” community welcomed new members while strengthening the ties among those who have long been part of it.
