Comprehensive Protection Assistance and Education Support in rural communities and raions of high intersectoral needs in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions ltpgtNGO "Enlightening Initiative" proposes a multi-sectoral project aimed at providing access to safe learning spaces, quality education and coordinated lifesaving protection services (including Mine Action) to children and adults in Ukraine, with a strong disability inclusion component. The project prioritizes gender-responsive, protection, and inclusivity approaches and will be implemented in ltbgthard to reach rural communitieslt/bgt in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk oblasts, targeting the raions with high intersectoral needs according to MSNA and 2024 HNRP.lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtProblem Statement. The ongoing conflict and war in Ukraine has intensified the compounded humanitarian needs of both displaced and local residents in the nine oblasts closest to the front line and along the border with Russia and Belarus, including the most vulnerable being disproportionately affected: women, children, older people, marginalized groups and people living with disabilities. Rural communities, in particular, are facing multiple extreme needs and lack the resources and infrastructure necessary to provide quality education and protection services to conflict-affected children and households. Nearly all households with a member with disability report severe or extreme protection needs (96 per cent of them).lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtObjectives. Focusing on five oblasts closest to the frontline and raions with the highest concentration of co-occurring needs in protection, this project is crucial in providing conflict-affected children with the necessary education and protection services, which are often inaccessible in rural communities. ltbrgtThe project will prioritize gender-responsive, protection, and inclusivity approaches, with the following ltbgtkey objectiveslt/bgt:ltbrgtlt/pgtltolgtltligtStabilize the mental health and psychosocial well-being of schoolchildren, teachers, children and caregivers.lt/ligtltligtRehabilitate bomb shelters in schools by providing necessary equipment and materials.lt/ligtltligtProvide regular catch-up learning opportunities for children and training programs for teachers.lt/ligtltligtProvide emergency support in kind (individual protection assistance) to persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, engaging OPDs.lt/ligtltligtProvide life-saving EOR education and insititutional support to national Mine Action institutions.lt/ligtltligtProvide quality child protection services to vulnerable boys and girls through structured PSS services and raising awareness of child protection.lt/ligtltligtProvide quality and gender-responsive GBV prevention and risk mitigation, GBV awareness raising and providing life-saving information, in particular for schoolchildren and educational staff provide PSS aid and referrals to GBV survivors when identified.lt/ligtlt/olgtltpgtGeographic locations. NGO “Enlightening Initiative”, with demonstrated operational presence, is targeting the raions marked by intersectoral needs severity of ltbgtseverelt/bgt (Kharkivskyi, Bohodukhivskyi, Chuhuyivskyi raions), ltbgtextremelt/bgt (Izumskyi, Zaporizyi, Kryvorizkyi, Kramatorskyi raions) and ltbgtcatastrophiclt/bgt (Khersonskyi, Beryslavskyi raions) categories.ltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtltbgtBeneficiaries.lt/bgt The project will target 36,000 displaced, returnee, and local children and families affected by the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on rural communities, vulnerable women and PwDs, with 81% children beneficiaries.ltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtBeing a national women-led NGO, Enlightening Initiative will establish local partnerships and engage two local CBOs as sub-IPs in hard-to-reach areas of Donetsk and/or Kherson oblasts, to jointly provide targeted case management and IPA, in coordination with OPDs and health system. Capacity-building trainings for local CSOs on protection mainstreaming, PSEA, and AAP will also be provided to ensure meaningful localization. Either national MA institution or one third sub-IP specializing in Mine AoR will be engaged for EORE.ltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtBy prioritizing age- and gender-responsive, protection, and inclusivity approaches, the project will address the needs of vulnerable boys and girls and PwDs, promoting their wellbeing and safeguarding their rights.lt/pgt