Roundtable in Khmelnytskyi explores social economy as a tool for community development
On April 30, a roundtable discussion titled “Social Economy as a Response to Community Challenges: From Care to Green Entrepreneurship”
was held in Khmelnytskyi, organized by the Platform for Social Change.
The event brought together representatives of government, local authorities, social services, education, business, and social entrepreneurs to move from discussing challenges to identifying practical solutions for communities.
Who participated
The roundtable featured two panel discussions with participants representing different sectors working at the community level.
The first panel included Roman Uzhva, Deputy Head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Military Administration, Vadym Maruniak, Acting Director of the Department of Social Protection of the same administration, Anatolii Skrypnyk, Professor and Head of the Department of Inclusive Education and Rehabilitation at Kamianets-Podilskyi State Institute, and Mykola Ostrovskyi, Head of the Social Protection and Labor Department of the Dunaivtsi City Council.
The second panel brought together representatives from entrepreneurship development, local governance, and social business practice. Among the speakers were Oksana Andreychyk, Director of the Regional Entrepreneurship Support Fund, Anastasiia Yarova, Deputy Head of Zhvanytsia Territorial Community, Artur Voitiuk, a veteran and business owner, Alona Shybunko, social entrepreneur and alumna of the Platform for Social Change, and Svitlana Karytun, PR specialist from the “Smart Environment. Khmelnytskyi” office.
This diverse group made it possible to cover the full chain — from identifying community needs to discussing implementation mechanisms.
Key challenges discussed
Participants highlighted several systemic challenges faced by communities.
These include a shortage of social services, particularly for vulnerable groups, and limited budgetary tools to support their development. A significant gap was also noted between understanding community needs and having the instruments to address them.
Another major barrier is the lack of qualified professionals. Even when initiatives exist, there are often not enough people with the capacity to implement them. Participants also emphasized the difficulty of launching and scaling social models due to limited funding, low levels of trust, and insufficient coordination between sectors.
At the same time, social entrepreneurship already exists in communities, but mostly in isolated cases that are not yet scaled systematically.
Shared vision and next steps
While no formal agreements were made, participants reached a shared understanding of the way forward.
The focus needs to shift from discussing problems to implementing practical models that have already proven effective. There is also a clear need to develop support instruments such as funding, development programs, and partnerships.
Special emphasis was placed on launching pilot solutions in communities rather than limiting discussions to theory, as well as strengthening coordination between government, business, civil society, and education sectors.
Participants also expressed readiness to share their experience and support similar initiatives in the region.
What this means for communities
The roundtable helped shift the focus from theory to practical action.
Communities gain a clearer understanding of which social economy models can be applied in practice. There is growing attention to local employment, the development of social services, and support for vulnerable groups.
Most importantly, social economy is increasingly seen not as an abstract concept, but as a practical tool for community development.
Role of the Platform for Social Change
The Platform for Social Change acted as the organizer of cross-sector dialogue and facilitated a discussion focused on practical solutions.
The event provided a space for knowledge exchange, building a shared vision, and identifying directions for future collaboration. At the same time, the Platform continues to highlight real community needs, connect stakeholders around effective models, and lay the groundwork for new joint initiatives.
