The Chernivtsi Oblast is a vivid example of the fact that polyethnicity of hromadas is an advantage for their amalgamation, and is by no means an obstacle, as it can sometimes be heard in other oblasts, said Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services, during his working visit to the Chernivtsi Oblast.

“There are ten amalgamated hromadas in Bukovyna, which include villages where Romanians, Ukrainians, Poles, Moldovans live. They work together to build their territories, develop successfully, and thus prove that polyethnicity is not an obstacle to amalgamation. The Zakarpattia and Odesa Oblasts should follow Bukovyna’s example,” noted Vyacheslav Nehoda.

He expressed his gratitude to the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, which, in conjunction with the European Centre for Minority Issues, is implementing a pilot project for the development of amalgamated hromadas with polyethnic population in the Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia and Odesa Oblasts.

“At the end of January 2019, we will launch a series of trainings in Chernivtsi and Uzhgorod, and in mid-February in Odesa. A unique experience has already been developed on the basis of Bukovyna polyethnic hromadas. It is necessary to use it,” informed Yuliya Hrytsku-Andriyesh, Head of the South-West Hub of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.

She provided an example of a successful development of the Volokivska AH, where almost all population in the hromada centre – Voloka village – are Romanians, though in another AH village of Valya Kuzmina half of the population is Ukrainian, and the other half – Romanians and partly Moldovans.

“The socio-economic development of this hromada is based on the traditional crafts for this area – bead embroidery, which developed into embroidery of wedding dresses. Voloka dresses are being exported to Europe, and are in demand as handmade products. By the way, the village of Valya Kuzmina, that accessed Voloka, shortly after the AH formation received a newly built kindergarten, renovated school, new jobs. Peter Wagner, Head of Support Group for Ukraine at the European Commission, visited the village and was very pleased with the results,” said Yuliya Hrytsku-Andriyesh.