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Bilokorovychi Territorial Community
Zhytomyr
Population:
The Bilokorovychi Community is situated in the Zhytomyr Region.
Its population totals 6,189 residents.
Men: 2,790 residents
Women: 3,399 residents
History
The village of Bilokorovychi is one of the ancient settlements of the Slavs – Drevlians, but the exact date of its foundation remains unknown. The village was located between the famous East Slavic settlements of Iskorosten (presently Korosten) in the east, Olehsk (presently Olevsk) in the west and Vruchii (presently Ovruch) in the north.
The first known mention dates back to 1545.
According to folk legend, the village got its present name Bilokorovychi after a white cow saved the villagers during the Mongol-Tatar invasion. The cow appeared on the high bank of the river and forced the invaders to retreat because they understood its appearance as a sign of a prohibition to attack the village. Today, there is an Orthodox church on this site.
There is also a healing spring in the territory of the Bilokorovychi Community where, according to legend, the image of the Holy Mother of God appeared and the flow of water has not stopped since 1545. A chapel was built on that place later.
The Community has given the world three-time Olympic champion, yachtsman Valentyn Mankin. His record of winning three Olympic medals in three different categories such as Finn, Tempest, and Star has long been unsurpassed.
Several famous cultural figures also come from the Community: conductor and composer Oleksandr Stetsiuk as well as ceramist artist Nina Fedorova.
Economy and Welfare
The economic component of the Community has been formed mostly from small agricultural lands. Approximately 1,700 residents of the Community cultivate their homestead plots and grow various grain crops and vegetables on their own. The most common crops grown by large enterprises are wheat, barley, sunflower, soy, and rapeseed.Olympic Colour LLC, a Turkish enterprise producing paints and varnishes, operates in the territory of the Community.
The Community has a developed transport infrastructure, permanent connection with the administrative centre. Seven bus lines operate for the convenience of residents.
Medical services in the Community are provided by four family doctors, and the Community has organized Health Centres in each locality.
The local social service works effectively. There are forty-one lonely elderly people in the Community who need care. And this work is performed by the specialists of the Social Services Department covering a long way to those in need every day.
Also, a social taxi functions in the Community to improve the provision of services to war veterans, lonely residents unable to work, and persons with disabilities, who cannot move around on their own.
Community and War
As the full-scale invasion began, the Bilokorovychi Community deployed its volunteer and humanitarian centre. The Community cooperates with international organizations to provide humanitarian goods to those in need.
The Bilokorovychi Community has become a shelter for approximately 600 internally displaced persons. First of all, they and the socially disadvantaged categories of the Community residents have been provided with everything they needed.
The Community has begun integrating internally displaced persons into the Community life through psychological support and self-employment projects.
Today, the Community faces the task of integrating servicemen into peaceful life, providing them with support and socialization, and protecting their rights.
On 06 June 2023, the residents of the Community, as well as the whole world, were stunned by the news of the russian army blowing up the Kakhovka HPP. At the same time, within a short time period, five tons of food, three tons of drinking water, generators, motor pumps for pumping out water and hoses for motor pumps were collected and sent to the residents of the affected areas.
People of the Community
Serhii Kotsur has been elected the head of the Bilokorovychi Community for the second time. Its motto is “Together to Victory”; therefore, much attention has been paid to the formation of a team of specialists, a team of like-minded people working for the benefit of the Community residents.
Providing various services to residents is a priority task of the head of the Community.
There are many talented people in the Bilokorovychi Community who celebrate their Motherland by preserving and enriching the folk customs.
The Community cares about its well-being, and the residents invest their talent in development and create a comfortable living space.
Development Strategy
The Bilokorovychi Community is small, but has prospects for sustainable development.
At the moment, the Bilokorovychi Community is looking for additional funding for:
- Restoration of the existing infrastructure, including for housing internally displaced persons
- Ensuring environmental safety
- Improvement of the hydrological regime and sanitary condition of the river
- Creation of a system of social and household services to be provided to the elderly
- Development of tourist routes
- Introduction of a system of separate collection of solid household waste
List of Sources
Sources of the video materials: Facebook page of ULEAD with Europe in the Zhytomyr Region