Andriana KOSTENKO, Olena KUPENKO, Kristina SAKHNO and Tetiana POVALII (members of the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Sociocultural Technologies) in cooperation with the NGO “Intellect of Sumy Region” and the veteran center “Veteran-PRO Sumy Region” joined the organization and holding of the workshop.

The event took place on 9-11 December 2025 at Sumy State University. It brought together veterans, people with disabilities, specialists in supporting veterans, as well as other experts working with the veteran community. The workshop was aimed at strengthening the active participation of veterans in public life and developing local initiatives.

The event goal was to increase ability of veterans to initiate and implement their own community projects via management tools, psychological resilience, and adaptive sports as effective ways of social integration and development.

The workshop program was built on the principle of gradual transition: from awareness of their own experience and resources to creation of specific project solutions. On the first day, participants worked with personal stories and motivation, got acquainted with the ecosystem of veteran policy in communities. They formulated problems, goals, and objectives of their own initiatives. They joined practical classes in adaptive sports, in particular sitting volleyball.

The second day was dedicated to tools and resources for implementing veteran projects. Participants took part in aqua aerobics and music therapy classes, received practical advice on preparing grant applications, typical mistakes, and funding opportunities from state and donor programs. Considerable attention was paid to teamwork on their own project ideas.

The final workshop day focused on the role of veterans as agents of change in their communities. Participants learned about risks of project activities, presented completed mini-projects, received expert feedback. They participated in physical practices to restore resources, reduce stress, and support psychological resilience.

As a workshop result, participants increased awareness of support programs and grant opportunities, developed at least 5-6 ideas for mini-projects to implement in communities, gained practical experience in adaptive sports and physical practices, and formed active environment for further cooperation and mutual support. The event was an important step in development of veteran initiatives in the region. It once again confirmed veterans are not only recipients of assistance, but also powerful creators of change in their communities.