Sida Director-General Visits Dymer Hromada in Ukraine
Dymer Hromada was among the first in Kyiv Oblast to experience occupation and is now steadily restoring daily life, public spaces, and local institutions—planning its development with a view to the future. During his working visit, Jakob Granit, Director-General of Sida, explored the hromada’s approaches to recovery and its partnership priorities within the Polaris Programme.
"Ukraine remains Sweden’s foremost foreign policy priority, and the dedication and professionalism demonstrated daily at the local level are vital to a resilient recovery and a sustainable future," emphasised Jakob Granit, Director-General of Sida.
The visit began with an inspection of the dam near Kozarovychi. At the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the controlled release of water from the Irpin River turned the floodplain into a natural barrier, hindering the advance of armoured vehicles toward Kyiv—particularly along the Demydiv–Irpin–Moshchun axis. This decision significantly affected the pace and routes of the enemy’s assault on the approaches to the capital.
During the meeting with the hromada’s leadership, discussions focused on recovery priorities, the preparation of the Comprehensive Spatial Development Plan, and approaches that help communities build sustainable, trust-based, and accountable solutions. The Head of the Hromada, Volodymyr Pidkurhannyi, underlined that genuine partnership begins with openness and trust:
“For us, it is important when international partners seek not only to see the results but also to understand the process that drives the hromada. That open and engaged dialogue is exactly what we experienced during Sida’s visit.
The delegation also visited the Administrative Service Centre (ASC), established with UNDP support and institutionally strengthened through the expert assistance of SALAR International under the PROSTO project, as well as the Dymer Lyceum—a priority recovery site registered in the DREAM system and prepared for reconstruction.
ASC: A Place of Trust and Accessible Services
The Administrative Service Centre (ASC) in Dymer serves as a convenient “entry point” for residents—a combination of efficient service, advice, and a human approach. The team pays special attention to veterans, women veterans, and their families, as well as residents of remote settlements—thanks to modern appointment tools and well-organised mobile formats.
Serhii Prykhodko, Head of the ASC of Dymer Hromada, noted:
“The ASC has become a place of trust for our residents. With the support of international partners, we have created a modern centre where people receive not only services but also guidance and support—especially veterans and their families. It is important to us that every visitor feels they can come here for help, not just for documents.”
Dymer Lyceum: A School Transforming into a Space for Growth
The planned reconstruction of the early 20th-century building will preserve its historical character while turning it into a safe, energy-efficient, and modern learning environment. A key focus is the creation of a STEM education centre, where students will be able to explore, experiment, and create—preparing for life in a rapidly changing world.
Svitlana Shpak, Director of Dymer Lyceum, shared:
“Our lyceum brings together children from ten settlements of the hromada. We strive for the renewed school to become not only a modern and safe place for learning, but also a space for personal growth. After reconstruction, we will open a STEM education centre—a space where children can explore, experiment, and create, preparing for life in a constantly changing world.”
Dymer Hromada and Polaris Programme
Dymer Hromada is a partner of the Polaris Programme under the "Locally-Led Recovery" track. The joint work focuses on making recovery an integral part of the hromada’s strategic development—built on community engagement, trust, accountability, and a focus on sustainable results.