Youth projects in Zamglay village in the Ripkynsky district of the Chernihiv region

The population of Zamglay village is 1985 and about 400 inhabitants are young people. The village is located 70 km from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and experienced radioactive contamination during the disaster. As the years passed, radiation conditions fortunately improved, but unemployment and poverty caused by the closure of local enterprises became much worse. Impoverishment of the population has caused alcoholism and drug addiction of young people. Apathy and passivity towards life developed in people. People became accustomed to receiving low subsidies from the State authorized to 'chernobyltsy' (Chernobyl-affected people) and to doing nothing, dragging out a passive existence. People who were looking for a better life began to leave the village. The situation was difficult. People finally understood that they should not rely on the help of others. People said: 'If we don't help ourselves, who will help us?' 'We can help ourselves!' was the answer. We have understood that our power lies in our unity. In March 2003, the population of the village united in two organizations: 'Pobeda' (Victory) community organization and 'Ogonyok' (Light) community organization. We have jointly defined priorities and common projects for village recovery. We started by putting the cemetery in order, cleaning the streets, repairing the fences, water supply systems, wells and reconstruction of the local market. We then implemented projects on reconstruction of health clinics, repairing the school's workshop and sports ground, and laying a gas supply system. We implemented these projects with the assistance of the UNDP's Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme. There are also problems. The absence of telecommunications infrastructure does not allow reliable modern access to the internet. To implement business plans, available credit lines, training and experience are needed. This requires the assistance of the international community and the State. However, we have already learned the most important lesson - the most important source of recovery and renewal comes from relying on ourselves