Supporting Ukraine

Vidnova programs are dedicated to supporting the civil society of Ukraine. We are building bridges, navigating relationships, accompanying organizational development and enabling sustainable collaborations with civil society actors, initiatives and organizations in Ukraine and other European countries.

Created by Commit gGmbH.

Read the Vidnova Journal No. 2 (PDF)

Read the Vidnova Journal (PDF)

Read Vidnova Storyline (PDF)

Ukraine and other European countries

Vidnova is a program born out of solidarity with Ukrainian civil society. It supports people who have been displaced, disrupted, or uprooted by war – helping them reconnect, rebuild, and continue their vital work across Europe and Ukraine. Through five program lines – Vidnova Fellowship, Vidnova Lab, Vidnova Placement, Vidnova Education and the Support Fund – Vidnova offers space, resources, and community to those shaping a just and resilient future.

Berlin and Brandenburg

Vidnova Plus is about belonging, rebuilding, and reconnecting. It supports Ukrainians in Berlin and Brandenburg as they find their place, share their voices, and shape new beginnings. The program includes two lines – Vidnova Engagement and Vidnova Dialogue – offering space for skill-building, participation, and deep exchange between refugee professionals, diaspora actors, and local partners.

Ongoing Programs

Ukraine

Vidnova Lab

Vidnova Lab is a fellowship program for experienced civil society professionals—Ukrainians living both in Ukraine and abroad. Vidnova Lab focuses on finding effective solutions for the immediate and long-term recovery of the country, emphasizing the resilience of individuals and their professional environments.

Ukraine

Vidnova Support Fund

Vidnova Support Fund is a solidarity pot of 100.000 Euros dedicated to civil society initiatives and organizations in Ukraine, that are in an emergency of covering their daily organizational needs.

Berlin & Brandenburg

Vidnova Plus Engagement

Vidnova Plus Engagement aims to support people from Ukraine through enabling possibilities of active participation in their new local context. This program focuses on polishing key social, communication and project management skills.

Berlin & Brandenburg

Vidnova Plus Dialogue

Vidnova Plus Dialogue is more than a series of networking events — it’s a long-term initiative that brings people together to spark collaboration, inspire new ideas, and shape a shared future. It welcomes Ukrainians with a migration background, members of the wider Ukrainian communities in Berlin and Brandenburg, and representatives of German civil society and public institutions.

Berlin & Brandenburg

Vidnova Plus MicON

Podcasts are powerful tools — they let people speak in their own words, share their realities, and connect across borders and experiences. Through our Podcast Workshops, we invite you to explore podcasting as a creative and practical way to share your story, engage with your community, raise awareness, and contribute to a more inclusive society.

Our Story

From Urgency to Continuity

In early 2022, as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the world changed overnight — and with it, the lives of countless civil society actors. Many were forced to flee their homes, and others stayed or returned, determined to support their communities under fire. Amid this chaos, Vidnova was born — a response rooted in solidarity, care, and the belief that civil society must be supported to survive, reconnect, and continue shaping the future of Ukraine.

What began as a fellowship for displaced professionals quickly grew into something more. Today, Vidnova and Vidnova Plus bring together programs that enable action, connection, and long-term recovery — both within Ukraine and across borders.

From emergency response to ecosystem building, from hosting fellowships to facilitating dialogue, from fast-track funding to long-term cooperation — our programs and communities continue to walk alongside Ukraine’s civil society on its path forward. Because recovery begins not after war — but within it.

Facts and Figures

program containers

Program Lines

211

fellows in total

European host organizations

44,700

Euro for Vidnova Placements

Ukrainian host organizations

193,585

Euro for projects within Vidnova Fellowship

fellows
Vidnova Fellowship
Europe

European host countries

120

fellows
Vidnova Fellowship
Ukraine

905,600

Euro for fellowships, trainings and coaching within Vidnova Fellowship

network and community meetings

fellows Vidnova Lab

placements

240.000

Euro for fellowships within Vidnova Lab

#StandWithUkraine

program partners and funders

166,000

Euro for meetings and projects within Vidnova Lab

150,000

Euro in the pot of Vidnova Support Fund

Our Community says

Vidnova allowed me not only to recover but also to be reborn as a person: when you find yourself at the bottom, it is crucial to have someone give you a hand. This was Vidnova for me. I think Vidnova helps people believe in themselves again and move on.

Tetiana Harmider

Vidnova Europe Fellow

The Vidnova is an amazing program which offers a transformative space for growth, where creative minds can develop innovative ideas and connect with a community of like-minded professionals. It empowers participants to make a meaningful impact in their fields, providing them with the tools, network, and support to drive change.

Anastasia Leonova

Vidnova Ukraine Fellow

In times of crisis, like the unjust war in Ukraine, communities and communication become vital for survival. It’s not just about clinging to people with similar values for emotional safety and inspiration, it’s also about a more efficient redistribution of resources and expertise in times of deficiency, it’s about creative solutions for the impossible tasks we face every day. And this is what Vidnova gives people.

Anastasia Pustova

Vidnova Lab Fellow

Vidnova has provided its fellows with the opportunity to ground themselves, gain a clear understanding of their current circumstances, and determine the next steps necessary to rebuild their lives. After the war disrupted their previous paths, Vidnova has offered hope for the future, enabling many activists, artists, and human rights defenders to continue their work and careers by adapting their past experiences to the new realities they face.

Petro Rusanienko

Vidnova Europe Fellow

With the number of fellowship programs, Vidnova gives recognition to the work that so many people from civil society are doing. It puts people in the center.

Olha Kotska

Vidnova Program Lead

Tetiana Harmider

Vidnova Europe Fellow

Anastasia Leonova

Vidnova Ukraine Fellow

Anastasia Pustova

Vidnova Lab Fellow

Petro Rusanienko

Vidnova Europe Fellow

With the number of fellowship programs, Vidnova gives recognition to the work that so many people from civil society are doing. It puts people in the center.