Feature Story

In the heart of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, where the echoes of war resonate daily, the community-based organisation Club Eney stands as a refuge for key populations affected by the war.

For many, Club Eney is not just a place to receive assistance, but a vital community offering essential support.

When Yaroslav, a web developer, divorced a year and a half ago he spiraled out of control using drugs. Ultimately, he ended up homeless. "I used to have a steady job, but everything fell apart," he said. Without a place to call home, he now relies on the streets for survival. "I need food, a place to wash, and someone to talk to while I look for work," he explained.

A friend introduced Yaroslav to Club Eney, and it quickly became a part of his daily routine. "I receive food packages, do my laundry, and can take a shower," he said. He also enjoys a warm cup of tea or coffee while chatting with the staff, many of whom have faced their own struggles. "They’ve offered me sessions with a psychologist, but I’m not ready yet. I need to sort out my thoughts first," he admitted.

Velta Parkhomenko, chair of Club Eney, was once a client of the organization herself, receiving harm reduction services such as clean needles and support. "I started as a peer consultant and am now chair of the organization, so I refer to my experience helping others,” she said.

Club Eney began as a community-based organization offering HIV prevention services to people who use drugs and other HIV affected communities in Kyiv.

For her Club Eney is much more than that. "We had a dream to be a place where people could access all the services they need in one place, all in one location,” she said.  

The organization has outreach workers in all districts of Kyiv, where they provide harm reduction services, HIV testing and other support.  If someone tests HIV positive, they have someone accompany the person to the clinic, so they start treatment as soon as possible.

With the war, Club Eney has taken on a bigger role.

Olesya, a mother of three, fled from the Chernihiv region to Kyiv just before the war escalated. Having previously sought help at Eney for gender-based violence, she returned, knowing it would provide safety and help with basic needs.

“Today, my whole family came to Eney to do laundry, get food and diapers, and even have a social worker look after my children,” Olesya explained. Recently, when her child fell ill and she needed to buy medicine, the club reimbursed her for the costs after she presented the receipts. “With everything being so expensive, this support means a lot to us,” she said.

Since the onset of the war in February 2022, prices have skyrocketed for food, medicines and hygiene products and unemployment hovers above 17% pushing up demand at Club Eney and exacerbating other problems like drug addiction.

“In the last two years, we have provided help to over 40 000 people across the country. We are incredibly grateful that UNAIDS has supported us in filling the gaps and realising our dream," she said.

The Club Eney receives funding from the UNAIDS Humanitarian Fund, which supports various organizations, each addressing specific needs across different regions of Ukraine. Together, these projects enable local community organisations to deliver essential services, including HIV related services, and support to those who have been left behind, ensuring they receive the assistance they urgently need during this crisis.

“The war has greatly exacerbated social problems, pushing people from marginalized groups further to the edge of the state social system and leaving many without essential support. Thanks to the generous contributions from donors, primarily from the Netherlands, we can assist organizations like Club Eney in providing vital aid to these vulnerable populations,” said Gabriela Ionascu, UNAIDS Country director in Ukraine.

For Yaroslav, Club Eney has given hope. "I believe that everything will be okay for me because I see the people here at Club Eney who also used drugs but managed to turn their lives around,” he said. “So, I believe I can too."

Currently, there are over 3.4 million internally displaced people. A reported 143 591 people living with HIV were receiving treatment in 2023, close to the number before the invasion.

“Ukraine has succeeded in maintaining its HIV services, particularly the provision of antiretroviral therapy in government-controlled areas. However, the war, along with a range of humanitarian, social, and economic challenges, poses long-term risks to both the HIV response and the health system overall," said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. "To keep the epidemic under control, we must ensure that no one is left behind."