GEZUMI: A Community Home for New Beginnings
GEZUMI aims to provide support and a sense of community for female migrants and refugees from Ukraine living in Germany. Participants can experience the power of mutual support, as they navigate the journey of building new lives in Germany. The name GEZUMI encapsulates our mission: 'Unsere GEsellschaft als ZUhause für Menschen mit MIgrationshintergrund,' translating to 'Our Society as a Home for People with Migration Backgrounds' in English.
Connect
Join a network of Ukrainian women living in your city. Encouraging inter-personal connection and community growth as avenues for healing, our peer support groups are structured to facilitate relationships among participants. Share your story and experience the power of mutual support. Participation is entirely free.
Guidance from Experience
Each GEZUMI peer support group is led by a trained group facilitator from Ukraine. Their professional training and personal experiences allow our groups to be powerful spaces for community support.
Nurture your Resilience
Discover self-care techniques and exercises that can improve your well-being, empower you in your everyday life and allow you to access your own resilience.
GEZUMI Team
GEZUMI, a project by Hudara, is dedicated to supporting Ukrainian women in Germany.
Interested in learning more about Hudara? We are an independent and impartial organisation that works globally in regions affected by poverty, conflict, and climate change. For more insights into their impactful work, click here.
Feride Nur Haskaraca Kizilay
GEZUMI Project Manager
Feride Nur Haskaraca Kizilay is a psychologist with a PhD from the University of Göttingen, specializing in human cognition and behavior. As both a researcher and an immigrant, Feride brings a unique perspective to her work, driven by a personal understanding of the challenges faced by migrants and refugees. She is deeply motivated by the belief that inclusive and supportive environments are crucial for both individual well-being and community cohesion. As project manager for the GEZUMI project, Feride oversees supports for Ukrainian migrants and refugees in Germany through peer support groups and cultural events. In Berlin, Halle (Saale), and Frankfurt (Oder), GEZUMI creates safe spaces where migrants can come together and exchange emotional and practical support. Coordinating GEZUMI groups, managing the scientific part of the project, and organising events that foster interactions between people with migration background and local residents, Feride strives to contribute to the psychosocial well-being of refugees and immigrants and to a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and build meaningful connections.
Nataliia Voitova
Group Moderator in Berlin
Nataliia is our peer support group facilitator in Berlin. Originally from Kyiv, she holds a degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from the Ukrainian Catholic University. Before moving to Germany, she gained six years of experience in communications and project management, working with different NGOs in Ukraine. Since coming to Berlin, Nataliia has become involved in the local Ukrainian community. She is passionate about raising awareness about important issues affecting refugees in Germany and stays politically active through different activist groups.
Olena Salii
Group Moderator in Halle (Saale)
Olena was born and raised in Odesa, Ukraine. Upon completing her degree in International Economics, Olena moved to Kyiv, where she launched a successful career in public and community organising. In 2021 she received the "Pride of the Nation" prize for her support of volunteer activities in Ukraine. In Spring of 2022, Olena's life was uprooted by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In March she moved to Germany, and now lives in Halle (Saale), where she facilitates our support groups for migrants. Olena finds strength and solace in offering support to the migrant community in her new home.
Maryna Pakholnytska
Group Moderator in Frankfurt (Oder)
After migrating from Ukraine to Germany two and a half years ago, Maryna gained invaluable experience in the challenges and opportunities that come with starting over in a new country. This personal journey has fuelled her passion for supporting others. Living in community in Frankfurt Oder has further reinforced her belief that the bonds we form with others makes a world of difference in overcoming challenges. Bringing both personal and academic experiences to her role of group facilitator, Maryna offers offer guidance, share practical insights as she supports other Ukrainian migrants as they adapt to life in Germany. As group facilitator in Frankfurt Oder, Maryna helps others to build meaningful connections, so they feel empowered, supported, and at home in their new environment.
