October News from GEN Ukraine: Green Phoenix 2026, Citizen Science, Climate Adaptation, Autonomous Spaces and Urgent Winter Readiness Appeal

ByGEN Europe

By Oleksandr Stepanov – GEN Ukraine Network Coordinator

1. 🕊 Green Phoenix 2026: Ukrainian Delegation and the Voice of Communities in Times of Polycrisis

  • Delegation Organization: Tatyana Chub organized the delegation to the annual international gathering of ecovillage movement leaders, Green Phoenix 2026, in Switzerland, representing the entire GEN Ukraine network on-site alongside Olha Shtefen. GEN Ukraine President Maksym Zalevskyi joined the gathering online.
  • Network and Community Presentations:
    • Tatyana Chub 🤩 presented the activities of the entire GEN Ukraine network, highlighted key operational areas, and framed a clear request for partnership and support for the upcoming 2026/2027 winter season 🐦‍🔥.
    • Olha Shtefen presented the Pokuttya community (Ivano-Frankivsk region) and shared their challenging realities: intensified shelling, exhausted families, children learning in shelters, and an urgent need for housing for displaced families (IDPs).
  • Hybrid Session “What is Happening in the World?”: Ukrainian representatives took part in a dedicated hybrid session on communities in crisis regions (wars, political instability, and social crises) alongside colleagues from Senegal, GEN International, New Zealand, Brazil/North America, Casa Latina, and the USA.
  • Key Guiding Questions of the Gathering: Participants explored how communities respond to polycrises, what forms of mutual support they develop, how to transform challenges into opportunities for growth, and how to maintain dialogue between the contrasting conditions of life in privileged countries and the realities of war and oppression.
  • Winter Preparation and Technical Cooperation: Olha Shtefen shared her community’s experience installing solar panels and a heat pump, emphasizing the need for technical experts to configure complex equipment. Maksym Zalevskyi called for a focus on how Ukrainian ecovillages continue to act, build infrastructure, and shape a vision for the future during wartime. Tatyana Chub urged attendees to join international ambassadorship and support GEN Ukraine in preparing for the winter period.

2. 🐦 “Supiy” Project at the GEN Ukraine Gathering: From Birdwatching to Citizen Science

  • During a weekly network call, Yevheniy Dovhaliuk, founder of the “Supiy” nature conservation project, shared how observing birds near a lake close to Yahotyn evolved into systematic scientific research (documenting 196 bird species) and the establishment of an official nature reserve.
  • Participants discussed using digital applications like Merlin Bird ID and iNaturalist, as well as stationary acoustic monitoring tools (AudioMoth).
  • Network ecovillages are becoming hubs for long-term observation: representatives from “Zhyvyi Dim” (Kharkiv region) shared observations of birds arriving at newly created ponds, while Omelianivka (Zhytomyr region) plans to install camera traps and acoustic monitors in the surrounding forest.

3. 🌲 “Life of Polissya Biodiversity” Eco-Trail Launch in Omelianivka

  • On October 8, an interactive eco-lesson and the inaugural field tour took place along the newly created “Life of Polissya Biodiversity” eco-trail in Omelianivka, Zhytomyr region, bringing together 35 participants (22 children and 13 adults).
  • The event was organized by GEN Ukraine and NGO “Ridne Polissia” with support from the Ukrainian Climate Network and NGO “Ekoltava”.
  • Citizen Science for Nature Protection: Every observation logged by children and adults in iNaturalist creates an official scientific basis for granting the territory regional reserve status, protecting the forest from illegal logging or privatization.
  • Special thanks to NGO “Tsvit Kulbaby” for providing unique 3D-printed leaf keychains for all the children!

4. 🌡️ Climate Change Adaptation: Practical Solutions from GEN Ukraine Ecovillages

  • On October 7, Maksym Zalevskyi presented practical ecovillage solutions during Ukrainian Climate Week:
    • Land & Water: Tree planting (tracked via the Silvi platform), river cleanups (Murafa River), rainwater harvesting systems like “Vodolap” at Tepla Hora, and gravity-fed drip irrigation in Radaria.
    • Building & Energy: Construction using straw panels (Busha), retrofitting old buildings, solar power stations, and heat pumps.
    • Knowledge Base: Documenting experience into open instructions, step-by-step guides, and diagrams for municipalities and other communities.

5. 🏛️ Autonomous Public Space: Experience and Recommendations from GEN Ukraine

  • GEN Ukraine participated in the intersectoral meeting “Autonomous Public Space: From Idea to Joint Project”.
  • Maksym Zalevskyi presented the experience of Ukrainian ecovillages in building with natural materials (straw, hemp, cob, earth) and integrating solar energy. He emphasized the importance of two-way knowledge exchange with international partners and adapting European solutions to wartime conditions.
  • 📄 View the SELF-ORG LAB presentation on Google Docs.

❄️ Urgent Appeal: Winter Readiness Appeal

Our settlements fulfill a dual role: they not only care for the environment but also serve as reliable shelters for civilians and IDPs from large cities escaping the cold and severe blackouts. To safely accommodate the flow of people and ensure the stable operation of the network, we are launching a fundraiser for winter preparation:

Due to recent severe bombardment of the energy grid, blackout hours have significantly increased. Existing battery storage systems cannot handle the load and are failing. Mobile connectivity and internet frequently drop out, and the situation is expected to worsen as winter progresses. Therefore, your help and support are vital to us.

📊 To ensure that this winter even more shared spaces become energy-independent and capable of supporting others, we have the following needs:

  • ☀️ Solar Equipment (Need: €85,893 / 4,380,534 UAH):
    • Will allow covering 13 shared spaces and households.
    • Will provide safe wintering for 100–120 displaced persons and support and connection for the network’s project teams (~8–10 people) for uninterrupted work and coordination.
    • Bonus: We already have funding for smart meters to integrate stations into the Arkreen platform (where 5 of our stations already operate), which will allow monetizing green generation.
  • 🪵 Firewood Supply (Need: €11,480 / 585,500 UAH):
    • Procurement of firewood for 16 network locations to heat shared spaces during winter events.
  • 🚗 Mobility & Fuel (Need: €21,569 / 1,100,000 UAH):
    • €4,314 (220,000 UAH): Fuel for ~20 shared spaces and bicycle workshops (food delivery, medical assistance, logistics for children).
    • €17,254 (880,000 UAH): Retrofitting ~20–25 standard bicycles into electric ones and repairing them in 5 local bicycle workshops.
  • 🚰 Sanitary Conditions and Water Supply (Need: €6,862 / 350,000 UAH):
    • Installation of boilers, shower cabins, and water supply lines to buildings to create proper sanitary conditions.

💳 How to Support: You can support our winter preparation campaign directly via the WayForPay Payment Page or by scanning the QR code below.

🤝 We will be sincerely grateful for any assistance: direct donations, contacts of potential foundations or donors, consultations, or sharing information. Our team is always ready to hold a Zoom meeting and talk about needs in more detail.

  • Contact Person: Oleksandr Stepanov — GEN Ukraine Network Coordinator
  • Telegram: @StepanovAleksandr
  • Email: genukraine2018@gmail.com

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