What we do

A new chapter in urban transformation has begun with the launch of DIY Ukraine, an NGO dedicated to revolutionizing public spaces across the country through tactical urbanism, sustainable architecture and citizen-led design. Renowned Danish-Canadian urbanist Mikael Colville-Andersen, who currently lives in Ukraine to help rebuild, has teamed up with passionate Ukrainian urbanists to create an organization that aims to make Ukrainian cities more livable, resilient, and vibrant by importing best practices from around the world.

At DIY Ukraine, we empower communities to transform their urban neighborhoods through tactical urbanism and citizen engagement. These innovative approaches, still relatively new to Ukraine, enable residents to actively participate in reshaping their surroundings. By importing best practices and ideas from around the world, we ensure that our projects are both cutting-edge and tailored to local needs. Our mission is to make cities more livable, resilient, and inclusive—one neighborhood at a time. We are officially registered as an NGO in Ukraine and collaborate with European NGOs on projects.

Current Projects

Community Garden in Podil, Kyiv (above)

We are in the process of clearing a plot of land in this historical neighbourhood that has been abandoned since an 18th century building was torn down in 1985. It was walled off and forgotten. We are clearing out the garbage, landscaping and we will create a community garden for local citizens as well as a trauma sensitive "Zen Garden" for mental health. Funding goes to materials to build flowerbeds and to buy fruit trees, soil -  among other essential elements. By supporting us in our work on this community garden, you will:

- enable a citizen in Kyiv to grow food and strengthen their personal food security

- help develop interpersonal relationships in the neighbourhood which builds stronger social bonds and that is even more important in a war zone

- enable people to take part in gardening and improve their personal resilience for a lifetime, as well as the therapeutic benefits of garden therapy - also insanely important in a war zone

- improve the biodiversity of the garden and help tackle the heat island effect in the neighbourhood

Tactical Urbanism on Kontraktova Square, Kyiv

We are planning the world's largest pop-up urban space on an iconic square in Kyiv. On 10,000 m2 of asphalt we will employ tactical urbanism to put in benches, trees in planters and many activities for physical health in order to activate the space. Funding goes to citizen engagement meetings, materials for prototyping benches and facilities. Your contribution will:

- help create a social hub for citizens in what is now just an empty asphalt wasteland

- help improve public health, social interaction and strengthen social bonds in the neighbourhood

- give Kyiv citizens an active, positive space with trauma-sensitive design

Nordic Therapy Garden

We designed and built the first Nordic Therapy Garden to heal mental trauma and PTSD in Kyiv in spring 2024 but we are still stewards of the space and need to maintain it and add elements. We built it with 1000 volunteers. Funding goes to workshops with professionals to disseminate the concept far and wide in Ukraine.

What we have done - and will continue doing

We are dynamic agents of urban change who try take action daily - together with our followers.

DIY Ukraine has already been transforming the urban landscape of Ukraine, one project at a time. We organized the design and construction of Ukraine’s first Nordic Therapy Garden, providing a sanctuary for healing mental trauma and PTSD. We are currently clearing an abandoned plot of land in the Podil neighbourhood - to save it from developers by making an urban Zen garden. We breathe life into neglected spaces and show citizens that they, too, can be part of the solution. For example, we fix parklets with fresh paint and repair the benches and swings, leading to an exponential increase in their use. We've resurrected Soviet-era outdoor ping pong tables with new tops, turning them back into vibrant community hubs. Our homemade bollards keep cars off sidewalks, reclaiming pedestrian space. We empower communities with "seed bomb" events—where locals create small packets of soil, clay, and seeds that explode into bursts of greenery, revitalizing barren areas. We engage children in urbanism workshops, giving them the tools and confidence to shape their future cities. With an army of passionate civilian volunteers, we plant greenery, create new urban parks, and organize cultural events focused on urbanism. Through powerful media campaigns, we raise awareness and inspire action, making sure every voice is heard in the fight for better urban living. And then there are the simple, enjoyable actions like using LEGO bricks as urban infill - patching up bits of broken city with colour - and  At DIY Ukraine, we’re not just changing spaces—we’re building a movement. We hope that you can support our cause with a donation.

How we will use the funds

At DIY Ukraine, the funds we raise through international crowdfunding will directly fuel our mission to transform urban neighborhoods across Kyiv and the rest of the country. With your support, we will expand our tactical urbanism projects, creating more vibrant, safe, and inclusive public spaces.

This is a war zone in an invaded nation under constant threat of missile strikes. But it is still a country with cities and towns that can be designed better and that inspire citizens to live there. We'll use the funds to design and build parklets, public gardens, trauma-sensitive design of public space in the form of benches and facilities. We'll continue to restore and revitalize neglected areas with volunteers by repairing benches, caring for urban trees, planting new flora in the urban landscape. And we'll get a little more "in your face" by blocking motorist access to sidewalks and redemocratizing public space.  Your contributions will help us purchase materials for both homemade bollards and concrete planters, ensuring sidewalks remain safe for pedestrians. We will organise community events to make "seed bombs" and more urbanism workshops for kids and adults alike. , and for organizing more "seed bomb" events to green our cities. We’ll give citizens the tools to envision and create the future of their cities. Additionally, the funds will support the creation of new urban parks and the organization of cultural events focused on urbanism, all powered by our dedicated army of civilian volunteers. Finally, part of the funds will be dedicated to producing media content that raises awareness and inspires even more people to join our cause. Every donation helps us build a brighter, greener, and more resilient Ukraine, one neighborhood at a time.

Your Call to Action

In this Ukrainian war zone, cities are restricted in their usage of funds for "non-essential" projects. So helping us fund our activities that will herald a new urban future serves two purposes:

1. We will help Kyiv and Ukrainian cities and towns by executing projects that they otherwise wouldn't be able to fund.

2. We will use the war as a window of opportunity for positive urban change that wouldn't otherwise be possible or accepted. 

This is our time. We have the vision. We have the experience and knowledge. We need to act now. You can help.