Integration Activities: How People Find Their Place in a Community

A practical guide to strengthening social cohesion through meaningful community integration

Experts: Kateryna Honchar, Anna Chudovska, Oleh Ovcharenko, +2

This series explores how strong, inclusive communities are built. It follows the journey communities take as people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs come together to live side by side. Through practical examples, the series demonstrates how integration activities can reduce social distance, foster trust, and create opportunities for meaningful connection, where diversity becomes a source of mutual learning, belonging, and social cohesion rather than division.

It serves as a practical guide for anyone committed to creating welcoming environments in which every person feels valued, has the opportunity to be heard, and can actively contribute to community life.

The educational series was created on the initiative of the International Charitable Foundation Caritas Ukraine, based on the original methodology of the practical guide “Integration Activities: How to Bring People Together in Communities?”, as part of the “Promoting Social Cohesion and Resilience in Communities” project, implemented by Caritas Ukraine with the support of Porticus, in collaboration with TryDo Studio for the Diia.Osvita platform.

Format:
Education series
EKTS:
0.1
Languages:
Ukrainian, English, Sign language
Topic:
Civil society
Intended for:
for IDPs, for public servants, for active citizens

Skills:

Assessing social integration in the community
Assessing the community’s social integration stage
Assessing the quality of an integration event
Considering group needs when planning events
Creating a space for safe interaction
Designing activities for participant interaction
Designing an integration event plan
Distinguishing social integration from assimilation
Identifying social integration stages and levels
Identifying target groups for social integration
Preparing and evaluating an integration event
Recognizing conflicts during events
Recognizing the stages of group dynamics
Selecting activities based on event goals
Selecting an event format, venue, and structure
Selecting an integration event format
Building trust through shared activities
Facilitating group work during events
Supporting the development of a cohesive community
Trauma-informed interaction with event participants

Program

Start

What is social integration, and how does it differ from assimilation and social cohesion? How can you recognize when integration is taking place—or when it is not? Discover the answers in the first episode.

Invited experts

Kateryna Honchar
Project Manager for Peacebuilding, Caritas Ukraine ICF, Facilitator, Mediator
Anna Chudovska
Community Engagement and Social Cohesion Manager, Caritas Ukraine ICF, Support Group Facilitator, Psychologist
Oleh Ovcharenko
Trainer, Methodologist, Dialogue Facilitator and Consultant in Effective Communication and Conflict Management in Ukrainian Communities
Hanna Homeniuk
Director of Social Cohesion Department, Caritas Ukraine ICF, Dialogue Facilitator, Practical Psychologist

Partners

Caritas Ukraine ICF