Survey data on community needs (June-November 2017) conducted by the Charity Organization “Berezan Community Fund” in collaboration with ISAR “Ednannia” and the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed that 29% of Berezan residents feel unsafe living in their city. Of the 307 surveyed residents, 11% sought assistance from law enforcement agencies in 2016. The satisfaction rating with their response was 2 out of 5, and 31% of respondents emphasized the need for significant improvements in law enforcement.
Analyzing survey data from 2015-2016 also revealed an increasing trend of dissatisfaction with safety and law enforcement. To address this issue, at the end of 2017, the Charity Organization “Berezan Community Fund” decided to unite efforts between the police, authorities, and the community. The organization sought grant support from the International Renaissance Foundation, ISAR “Ednannia,” and Baryshivska Grain Company LLC, securing competitive funding for systemic initiatives. These initiatives aimed to involve all community sectors—from children to adults—to foster partnerships between law enforcement and different age groups in Berezan and Baryshivka district, prevent crime, and develop an open democratic society based on human rights. The project was implemented from 2018 to 2019 with financial support from the International Renaissance Foundation, in cooperation with the Kyiv Regional State Administration, the Main Directorate of the National Police of Kyiv Region, Berezan City Council, and Baryshivka District Council.
In nine kindergartens, “Traffic Rules” kits and traffic participant costumes were provided for educational activities. Children received educational booklets on child rights and participated in interactive games to learn traffic rules and street safety. They were introduced to professions such as police officer and road patrol inspector. The total number of preschoolers across the nine kindergartens (Berezan, Baryshivka, and villages Sadove, Lekhnivka, Nedra) was 1,114. Joint activities with representatives of local authorities, police, and the community were also conducted.
In 13 secondary schools in Berezan and Baryshivka district:
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Teachers received “Traffic Rules” kits, traffic participant costumes, and educational booklets on child rights;
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Interactive traffic safety lessons were held to familiarize students with police professions;
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Legal education lessons were conducted using crime prevention methodologies;
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A quiz competition “We are the future of a legal state” was organized for high school students;
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School libraries were stocked with legal literature on responsibility and traffic rules;
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Workshops on personal safety and bullying prevention were held, with materials distributed to students and parents.
These activities involved representatives from local authorities, police, and the community. The total number of students in the 13 schools (Berezan, Baryshivka, and villages Sadove, Lekhnivka, Nedra, Korzhi, Yabluneve) was 4,612.
At the State Vocational Training Institution “Berezan Agricultural Lyceum,” attended mainly by socially vulnerable youth from seven Ukrainian regions, a road safety and first aid training room was established. Nine legal education lessons were conducted using interactive methods. Students participated in exercises on road safety risks, pedestrian injury mechanisms, and emergency response, including artificial respiration, bleeding control, and accident victim evacuation.
Participants of the Youth Initiative Bank met three times with representatives of Berezan Police Department and the Kyiv Region Police Department. They explored the challenges of law enforcement work and discussed cooperation opportunities between law enforcement and civil society. Youth debates on “What needs to be done in the city for youth safety” were held, where they identified collaboration barriers and potential for joint police patrols.
The Fund, in cooperation with Berezan City Council and Berezan Police Department, held two public discussions on “Organizing Joint Actions for Safety in Berezan Community.” Participants recognized that law enforcement and safety require coordinated teamwork among police, local authorities, and residents. A joint action plan for 2019-2020 was developed and incorporated into the city’s program.
The Fund, in collaboration with the authorities, acquired and installed:
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48 surveillance cameras at schools, hospitals, and high-risk road areas (Berezan City Council funded an additional 54 cameras, laid a 22 km telecommunications network, and purchased components for system operation);
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310 traffic signs, installed at hazardous road sections;
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915 meters of pipe for mounting traffic signs according to a transport scheme approved by Berezan City Council and the National Police Directorate;
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Glow-in-the-dark road paint for pedestrian crossings and road markings.
On August 13-14, four representatives from Berezan Community participated in the national seminar “Community Safety: Institutionalizing Change,” where they exchanged best practices with participants from other Ukrainian cities and worked with mentors to develop sustainability plans for their safety initiatives.
The Director of Berezankomunservice, S.V. Gura, engineer B.M. Yanushevych, and Head of the Berezan Community Fund, A.V. Novikova, participated in training programs organized by the Institute for Peace and Understanding with financial support from the International Renaissance Foundation. These programs contributed to:
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Developing a community safety potential plan;
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Analyzing the community’s capacity to implement safety initiatives;
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Creating a strategic safety development plan;
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Forming municipal guard work plans.
In November 2019, the organization conducted an anonymous survey to assess community perceptions of safety. The results guided adjustments in the joint safety efforts of the community, police, and authorities, emphasizing the need for teamwork in ensuring community security.
The Charity Organization “Berezan Community Fund” expresses deep gratitude to the International Renaissance Foundation, ISAR “Ednannia,” Baryshivska Grain Company, and active citizens who provided financial support and participated in safety initiatives.
Special thanks to Berezan City Council and its executive committee for their organizational and financial support in implementing community safety projects.
We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Berezan Police Department and the Kyiv Region Police Directorate in democratizing relations between law enforcement and the community in Berezan.
