Recently, an informal meeting took place between Marta Pyvovarenko, an advocacy specialist from NGO Community Self-Help, and John Biestler, the Chief Specialist for Veterans Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. A letter to the American government, written by the First Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, Oleksandr Porhun, was the result of this meeting. It is through systematic advocacy work that such results become possible.
The term "advocacy" is often misunderstood and associated with processes other than what it truly entails. Advocacy is a delicate process that cannot be rushed or done hastily. The term itself originates from Latin, "advocare," meaning "to call for support directly." The essence of advocacy lies in raising and addressing important societal issues through collaboration and influencing public opinion and national policy to achieve positive changes in society. An effective advocate must possess a deep understanding of the issue at hand, strategic thinking, the ability to draw attention to the problem, effective communication skills, and the ability to articulate thoughts and arguments clearly and persuasively. Additionally, resilience and perseverance are essential personal characteristics, as advocacy processes can be lengthy and require resilience when facing challenges and difficulties. Collaboration with various stakeholders and the ability to build partnerships are crucial.
Such systematic advocacy work began long before this specific meeting. In 2020, when Ukraine was revising its Veterans Affairs Strategy, Marta Pyvovarenko facilitated a working group on the Ukrainian side during a four-day working meeting with the involvement of senior leadership from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs from both the U.S. and Ukraine. The meeting discussed integrated programs that have already proven effective in the U.S., suicide prevention tools for military personnel and veterans, and the topic of mental health and transition programs. The meeting was extensively covered on the Ministry of Veterans Affairs website.
Seeking solutions, delicate and meticulous work, and continuous diplomacy training constitute true advocacy. The work of Marta Pyvovarenko and NGO Community Self-Help essentially embodies International Advocacy for Ukraine. It is a systematic activity aimed at representing and defending the interests of Ukrainian defenders and their families on the international stage. Marta Pyvovarenko and NGO Community Self-Help always utilize their voice and capabilities to draw the attention of the international community to the problems and needs of this group of people. Through meetings and cooperation with representatives of other countries, including John Biestler from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, international partnerships are formed. Initiatives aimed at addressing the problems of Ukrainian defenders require significant resources, and engaging international partners helps attract financial support, technical assistance, and other resources for project implementation.
This project was provided by NGO Community Self-Help with ISAR Ednannia support within the USAID Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity.
