In early July, representatives from Southern Iron Ore, the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future," and the Hrechanopodivska Village Council signed a Memorandum on social and economic partnership. The document sets out the areas of cooperation for developing the community and supporting its residents.
Today, the Hrechanopodivska community comprises 15 villages with a population of over 4,500 people. The community was established relatively recently; therefore, the support of reliable social partners is particularly important. Moreover, many residents of the community work at Southern Iron Ore.
The first agreement on social partnership between the enterprise and the community was concluded in the summer of 2024. Since then, a number of important initiatives in various areas, including education, culture, sports, as well as projects aimed at supporting children and young people, have been implemented with the enterprise's financial support.
Since 2024, the non-governmental organisation "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future" has also been supporting the community together with Metinvest Group. As part of the "Saving Lives" humanitarian initiative, assistance has been provided to the most vulnerable categories of the population – internally displaced persons, large families, single mothers, children with disabilities, and people with disabilities since childhood. Over this period, they have received approximately 18,000 food and hygiene packages.
The new memorandum, signed this year by the three parties, sets out the future areas of cooperation. It will continue to focus on the implementation of socially important projects, the development of the community's infrastructure, and the improvement of the quality of life for its residents.
During the signing ceremony, the General Director of Southern Iron Ore, Kostiantyn FEDIN, emphasised:
"For Southern Iron Ore, the signing of a Memorandum on social partnership with local communities has become a valued tradition. This is an important occasion and a shared commitment to implementing meaningful and worthwhile projects. Our employees, their families, and loved ones live in the Hrechanopodivska community. Every resident deserves decent living and working conditions. We are ready to build an effective dialogue, provide support, serve as a reliable partner, and address social issues together."
Despite the challenges of the time and the war, the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future" continues to support communities. This year, the organisation signed its first partnership agreement with the Hrechanopodivska territorial community.
"This year, we have expanded the geography of our partnership to support even more communities across the Dnipropetrovsk region. The Memorandum with the Hrechanopodivska community brings together our efforts to promote social and economic development and support both local residents and those for whom the community has become a second home because of the war. We are grateful to our partners for their trust and readiness to act jointly. Today, we are taking the first steps towards implementing important projects for the well-being of the people. There is much important work ahead of us," said Olena LESHENKO, Director of the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future."
Representatives of the Hrechanopodivska community are confident that the joint efforts of business, local self-government, and civil society make it possible to implement important social initiatives and develop future projects.
"For us, the social partnership with Southern Iron Ore and the NGO 'Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future' is not just a document but evidence of genuine support that people can truly feel. We highly value that business is not standing aside and helps to address the community's problems, remaining a reliable partner that contributes to its development. I am convinced that the new memorandum will provide the foundation for the implementation of even more valuable initiatives," said Halyna USYK, Head of the Hrechanopodivska Village Council.
