An Educational Game About the Lives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukraine

Darina Solodova April, 17 2018

Shelling, destruction, repressions — unlike those who are moving to a different city or country looking for a better life, people are leaving the ATO zone [the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, which are not under the control of the Ukrainian Government] because they have to. We are asking you to put yourself in their shoes.

Since spring 2014, about 1.5 million people left the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. There are over 220,000 IDPs currently living in Kyiv city and Kyiv oblast only. They had to start everything over again, having left their property, jobs, and friends and family behind.

Liaison Officers (RADNYK) Programme is a project implemented by the Canadian non-governmental organization Stabilization Support Services and funded by the British Embassy in Ukraine. Since 2015, the representatives of this programme are helping to establish cooperation between the state, the general public, and IDPs from the ATO zone and Crimea.

IDPs face negative attitudes directed towards them all the time — the attitude ranges from not understanding, to being openly aggressive.To try to change the attitude towards them, the Liaison Officers (RADNYK) Programme in cooperation with Bird in Flight have prepared a quest that helps participants put themselves in an IDP’s shoes.

Illustrations: Olia Hordiyenko

You live in Donetsk city. You task is to leave this region, while not losing all your money, time, and mental energy.

Mental energy

Money

Time

Shelling, lack of jobs and prospects, compulsory conscription to military service, and repression in the occupied territory made you decide to move to Kyiv. What will be the first thing that you do?

You have received your electronic pass. How will you be leaving?

You arrive in Kyiv. Where will you live before you find a permanent residence?

Like many other citizens from the eastern regions, you have a profession that’s related to the mining industry. You have a very slim chance of finding a full-time job in this professional area, and your savings are running out. What will you do?

An Educational Game About the Lives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukraine

Shelling, lack of jobs and prospects, compulsory conscription to military service, and repression in the occupied territory made you decide to move to Kyiv. What will be the first thing that you do?

You have received your electronic pass. How will you be leaving?

You arrive in Kyiv. Where will you live before you find a permanent residence?

Like many other citizens from the eastern regions, you have a profession that’s related to the mining industry. You have a very slim chance of finding a full-time job in this professional area, and your savings are running out. What will you do?

You found a job and started looking for permanent accommodation. When you found out that locals are reluctant to rent to IDPs, you…

Your Grandma stayed in Donetsk city and can’t receive Ukrainian pension payments. You want to help her, so you…

You want to register at the tax office for personal incorporation. So first you…

The IDP certificate makes you eligible for social benefits. Will you apply for them?

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