In Sofiyivka village, part of Lozuvatka territorial community, Metinvest's Central GOK is reconstructing and re-equipping a kindergarten building into a centre for administrative, social and cultural services for the local population with the support of Metinvest.
Over the past three years, Metinvest has been cooperating with the Lozuvatka community in Dnipropetrovsk region. During the war, the Central GOK continued its partnership work to create conditions for more comfortable living and improve the community's infrastructure.
"Central GOK's social responsibility is based on the principle of caring for people. Our employees and all residents of the communities where our facilities are located are in our constant focus. When signing memoranda of cooperation, we always take into account the priority needs of the local population. That is why projects that help people solve their pressing issues are a priority for us", Dmytro SHEVCHIK, General Director of Central GOK of Metinvest Group, said.
One of the projects is to improve the service of providing various types of assistance in rural areas. To this end, the reconstruction of the kindergarten building in Sofiyivka village has begun. A modern administrative and cultural centre will be created here.
"Thanks to Metinvest's support, our community has received an additional resource that we are channelling into its development. Our territory includes 32 settlements with a population of about 20,000 people. Therefore, we need to work primarily on infrastructure development, reconstruction of public buildings and creation of new public spaces. In Sofiyivka, in the building undergoing renovation, we plan to equip the prefect council office, a room for the community police officer, a library and a shelter for 100 people, etc. There is enough space there, so we have big plans", Vitaliy YATSENKO, head of the Lozuvatka village council, said.
The renovation of rooms on the ground floor is currently being completed at the facility. The main entrance is being repaired and the roof is being re-roofed. In the future, the centre will be used by organisations that will provide a range of important services to the community in a comfortable environment. Local residents agree that the location of the future service centre is convenient and are already looking forward to its opening. All the work on the building's re-equipment and repairs is being carried out under the coordination of Kryvyi Rih Foundation of Future non-governmental organization.
"The practice of cooperation with communities proves that the joint efforts of business, local authorities and active community members yield positive results. We have been implementing projects together with the Lozuvatka community for three years. Although the war has disrupted many of our plans, we are still proud of what we have already done and believe that we will be able to create useful things for people in the future. The community already has a development strategy, so we will implement it", Olena LESHCHENKO, director of Kryvyi Rih Foundation of Future, said.
In previous years, with the support of Central GOK, the Lozuvatka community held a sailing regatta and, as part of a memorandum of cooperation, completed the first stage of reconstruction of the recreation park in Lozuvatka. At the beginning of the war, Metinvest Group donated baby food and medicines to the community. Later, the Group established a systematic supply of humanitarian aid, including as part of Saving Lives project. Socially vulnerable community residents and IDPs received 3,600 food kits and 4,300 hygiene kits. Metinvest also assisted in arranging shelters for internally displaced Ukrainians who took refuge in Lozuvatka district.
