Reliable and clear definition of community issues is a guarantee of the quality of social projects of community foundations, compliance of the funds with the real needs of the community, increasing the level of trust from the community to non-profit organizations, as well as strengthening support from partners.
In the framework of the project "Strengthening the Network of Community Funds", implemented by the charity organization "National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy" based on the results of the project competition "School of Community Funds" with the support of ISAR "Unity" funded by Ch.S. MOTTA ”, together with the State Institute of Family and Youth Policy, a sociological survey of the population of territorial communities was conducted.
The purpose of the survey is to study the problems of the population of the local community and find ways to solve them.
The survey solved the following tasks:
identify personal problems of the population and the problems of the territorial community;
identify ways to solve problems in the local community;
to investigate the level of security in the territorial community;
explore the level of readiness to join the changes in the local community.
The online survey was conducted by participants of Youth Banks of the peer-to-peer initiative in eight territorial communities: Barska (Vinnytsia region), Voznesenska, Domanivska (Mykolaiv region), Berezanska, Baryshivska (Kyiv region), Stryjska, Novoyavorivska (Lviv region), Rivne (Rivne region) from April 26 to May 30, 2021.
The results of the survey were presented at the Conference of Leaders of Youth Banks of Initiatives, organized on June 11-12, 2021 in Kyiv.
According to the survey, residents of local communities are concerned about personal problems mainly related to health (both their own and their loved ones), lack of free time and lack of money.
The most problematic issues of the local community, according to residents who participated in the survey, are the poor condition of roads (indicated by residents of 6 local communities), low wages (5), environmental problems (3), indifference, passivity of the population (1), high prices (1).
Ways to solve the problems identified by the residents of the communities that participated in the survey are the construction and repair of roads (residents of 5 local communities), care for the environment (4), job creation (3), increase salaries, pensions, scholarships (3) , stopping the growth of prices (3).
The average crime rate in the local community, estimated by residents on a five-point scale, ranges from 2.3 to 2.7. According to the surveyed residents of the Voznesensk territorial community, the highest crime rate is 3.3. The priority areas of protection and counteraction to crime are: fight against environmental pollutants (indicated by residents of 7 local communities), fight against drug trafficking (3), fight against corruption and bribery (3), fight against hooliganism and vandalism (2).
The level of civic activity among community residents varies. Thus, the percentage of those who do not take part in activities related to the life of their settlement, territorial community, ranges from 16.6% of respondents from the Novoyavorivsk territorial community to 43.8% in the Stryi territorial community.
The population is ready to participate in such types of civic participation as voting in elections (indicated by residents of 6 territorial communities), participation in landscaping work (3), support for youth initiatives (2). The reasons that hinder participation in community development are mainly the following: lack of free time (indicated by residents of all 8 territorial communities), disbelief in the ability to protect their rights and interests (2), financial problems of the family (2).
As for charitable assistance and participation in charitable actions, it is mostly donations in the church and through fundraising boxes (indicated by residents of 4 local communities), just giving money to people (3), donations through bank transfer (2). Residents of all communities expressed their sympathy for those who need help as the primary reason for charity.
The results of the survey of each territorial community are designed in the form of an analytical testament and a presentation which you can read below.