Ekoltava turns 10!

10 years ago a small group of like-minded people gathered together to change the world around. Some time after that a group of environmental activists has become a non-government organization, a powerful ecological movement that attracts attention to environmental problems, implements eco-friendly solutions, and stands for green values. How it all has started, what challenges had been overcome throughout 10 years, and what goes on in Ekoltava nowadays — turn the page and find out now.

From cleanings in parks to ecological conferences

October 15, 2013 is considered Ekoltava’s birthday. Though this is actually the date of its official registration. An idea of ecological association has emerged a long time before. Among the founders were Dmytro Makarov, Olena Anhelova, Yuliya Melnyk (Pashkovska).

Ekoltava started from cleanings in Poltava, renovation of Dendropark, participation in ecological forums and conferences. 

“We then haven’t got even the faintest idea that Ekoltava is to become that powerful as it is now. Meanwhile, there were cleaning days, lectures in schools and universities, lawsuits against town council, festivals, camps, large forums, inspections, protests, art-projects and many more. I give my thanks to all the incredible people who were once and still are part of the team, who dedicated their time, and resources, and health to further ecological reforms in Ukraine. It is great honour to be a part of this fair, ambitious, and green association,” – accounts executive director, “Ekoltava”, Yuliya Melnyk (Pashkovska).

Continuous training and development: higher qualification in Ukraine, training abroad

The team, more to say, trains constantly (even till now, by the way). Participants of “Ekoltava” have applied for trainings, workshops, master-classes, trainee-jobs in Ukrainian and abroad ecological organization, improved their group working skills, and competences. 

“After three years of working in the organization I have learned a lot and upgraded my qualification, as constant development and improvement is a proper way to success. Special memories are left by the trip to Sweden this year, together with a group of institutional grantees from fund “Vidrodzhennia”. There we’ve seen with our own eyes what effective waste management systems really are. We’ve learned that any cooperation has to be grounded in the first place on trust and desire to care for people and nature. A lot of useful stuff concerning energy cooperation was during training in Berlin, arranged by partner organization NGO “Ekoklub” in cooperation with their German comrades. I was lucky enough to visit Slavutych, where I’ve not only learned about peculiarities of founding and designing the town, but happened to know its founder and the story of establishing the first energy cooperative in Ukrainian conditions. Generally speaking, I would emphasize that education definitely requires time, and efforts, and motivation into the bargain, but it is surely worth it!” – accounts project manager, “Ekoltava”, expert in waste management, Maryna Sadkina.

Waste, climate (in)justice, ecological disaster in Makukhivka — issues researched by Ekoltava

During 10 years Ekoltava’s team has conducted dozens of various researches in the field of environment protection. 

For instance, in 2020-2021 experts from the organization have launched an enlightening campaign on waste management. It embraced ecological festivals in 4 hromadas of Poltava region. Thanks to their assistance, in 2020, Poltava has become the first place, where there were presented preliminary outcomes and practical guidelines from «Inspection of new environmental impacts in the time of COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine». During this very year, specialists from the organization have been working on the researched titled «Climate (in)justice: impact of climate change on vulnerable social groups in Ukrainian cities», which has demonstrated the problems and requests of socially vulnerable groups emerged because of climate change in Ukrainian cities.

And of course, Poltava landfill, a regular hero (its environmental impact, to be precise) of researches by Ekoltava. Thus, in 2021, experts from the organization have questioned social justice regarded to inhabitants of village Makukhivka, which is situated 600 metres away from the landfill. Then, the specialists took water samples from local wells. As it turned out, there were harmful substances in that water, namely an overdose of nitrates and high-density metals. The presentation of research “I live near the landfill” was even visited by representatives from UN Monitoring mission, who have learned the outcomes of analytical research and pledged to report on international level on human rights violation. 

And at the end of 2022, Ekoltava has visited Poltava landfill again for another research. This time the experts have examined the impact of warfare on the amount of generated waste in hosy hromadas, defined morphological composition of waste from Poltava, and proposed alternatives to disposable plastics. 

“By doing its work Ekoltava strives to keep within sight the problems that demand collective solutions. And so, we often turn to Poltava landfill as it is a kind of reminder of what remains prior. Issues highlighted in researches of 2021-2022 prove the need for constant monitoring. NGO «Ekoltava» aims at continuous covering of the problem of Poltava landfill,” – says technical expert, analyst, “Ekoltava”, Nadiya Hroza.

Development of programs, launch of Ecobus

What about the outcomes? 

In October 2019, thanks to efforts from Ekoltava specialists, in Poltava there appeared Ecobus. This specialized van still moves monthly around the town and collects hazardous waste from the population: mercury-containing thermometers, batteries, fluorescent bulbs.

Together with Poltava regional council, Ekoltava has launched in 2019 a grant competition of ecological initiatives for funding of “green” projects in hromadas. By now, dozens of projects had been implemented, which deal with implementing of green solutions in villages, towns, and cities of Poltava region.

Also, specialists from Ekoltava have joined the development of Program on solid municipal waste management in Poltava 2020-2022 and Program on managing of hazardous waste as a part of solid municipal waste in Poltava 2020-2024.

The lawsuit

As for now, Ekoltava is sure that the work hasn’t been done in vain. The team has learned to overcome hardships, involve volunteers and even win lawsuits against town authorities.

Yes, there was a precedent in organization’s history. Activist from Poltava, Serhiy Antonenko, together with “Ekoltava”, has filed a lawsuit in 2018 against town council concerning waste management in the town. The reason was absence of proper collection, sorting, and utilization of waste in Poltava, and violation of liabilities resulting from the law “On waste”. This lawsuit has become the first of the kind. And environmental activists have managed to turn the situation to positive settlement.

But the biggest thing resulted from the precedent — assurance of Ekoltava’s might and the correctness of the path chosen.

The pandemic and full-scale invasion in Ukraine have surely altered the activities of organization. The team has learned to work remotely, while the war has encouraged Ekoltava to a new trend – food security.

In spring 2022, there emerged a project “POSADY!”, which helps people from vulnerable social strata provide themselves with sustainable and local food. In two years Ekoltava has sent seeds to over 5 000 Ukrainians, including those living in liberated and front-line areas.

“I can remember the first woking days accompanied by air-raid alarms. We then knew not that the war is to linger. We ran daily risks for the sake of shared goal – help people. And every single time were we surprised to discover what a powerful motive force the desire to help is! People from damaged regions visited the office, there were woes and stories, but we’ve succeeded then and resume working now for the good of Ukrainians, – accounts project coordinator in “POSADY!” Anna Honcharova. 

Social networks: the ultimate for eco-enlightenment

With their projects, experts of Ekoltava have won popularity for the organization, as it name appears in newpieces, and its opinions are considered. Many join its supporters and followers through social networks. By now, on Facebook there are over 9,5 followers, on Instagram there are some 2 thousand of them. And these figures are not the final frontiers, as Ekoltava designs plenty of cool initiatives to be implemented through social networks.

“Ekoltava stands for eco-enlightenment in Ukraine to create large and solid eco-community that will start changes in the country, so that Ukraine keeps up with the world, becomes nature-oriented, and adjusts to climate change. Humanity has no alternative way to go, and Ekoltava can not help distributing these values beyond eco-groups, so that they are exciting and helpful for common people, too. Social networks are just here to start the broad campaign and address people personally, — comments SMM-manager, “Ekoltava”, Roman Hezha.

The current life of organization

Nowadays Ekoltava is 9 professional, creative, and eager individuals, who contribute to the shared goal — strengthening of green solutions in hromadas.

Organization is actually located in Poltava, yet it functions all over Ukraine and even beyond. 

Chief relevant areas of its activity are reasonable waste management, minimization of waste, climate change adaptation, food supply, ecological enlightenment, and sustainable nutrition.

“Ecological enlightenment is most appealing for me. We teach people to become more environmentally aware, alter lives towards green future for the planet, foster green habits inside families. The forms and methods of this activity are completely unconditioned – like ecolectures for pupils and students, or playing table ecogames with children and adults. What is prior that these measures produce effect and receive positive feedback from the participants. This brings joy and inspiration”, – declares communication manager, “Ekoltava”, Kristina Brihida.

We end up Ekoltava’s story by now, but not its history. As we are sure that ahead there await plenty of intriguing projects, new researches, creative ideas that help protect the planet, more of green solutions, and overall environmental activism.