HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE WITHOUT HEELS: HOW LEGALIFE-UKRAINE COMBINED INTUITION AND SPHERE STANDARDS

Humanitarian aid works better when the call of the heart is combined with standards. In December 2025, trainer Iryna Kobzeva (Ірина Кобзєва) held two intensive training courses for our community. Thirty-two participants mastered humanitarian standards and turned inspiration into a professional tool. Less theory, more drive, and proven methodology that transforms good intentions into real change. Now our initiative has a clear foundation and algorithms that allow us to make humanitarian aid professional, systematic, and effective.

We would like to thank our partners — UN Women in Ukraine and the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) — for the opportunity to learn.

The project is implemented by the charitable organisation «LEGALIFE-UKRAINE» with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). WPHF is a flexible and rapid funding tool that supports high-quality activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of local women to prevent conflicts, respond to crises and emergencies, and use key peacebuildin opportunities.

Photo of the first group of participants in the humanitarian planning training, Kyiv, 2025

The Great “Reset”: From Intuition to Standards

As organisers, we wanted all participants to feel like confident professionals who know their rights and international aid rules. Our main goal was to transform a sincere desire to help into a powerful and secure system where the voice of the community plays a key role.

Natalia Isaeva (Наталія Ісаєва), Head of CO «Legalife-Ukraine»: "We have been providing humanitarian aid to our community for over 5 years. We started during the pandemic, and after the war began, it became one of the main areas of our activity. All our experience has been gained through practice, through mistakes and ‘our own calluses.’ Humanitarian response training is an opportunity to organise this experience, transforming intuitive assistance into a clear humanitarian system. We are grateful to our partners for this opportunity."

It was important to give the young people the tools to independently defend the interests of their regions before the authorities or international funds. At the same time, we wanted to create a space where they could not only learn, but also heal each other through sincere conversations and support. Ultimately, we wanted everyone present to feel their own value and understand that they are the key to change in their own lives and the lives of their communities.

Iryna Kobzeva, trainer, psychologist, sexologist: "This was my first experience working with a community of sex workers... I was motivated by the desire to create a safe and supportive space for women from the sex worker community where they could openly talk about their experiences, difficulties and needs without the risk of judgement or stigmatisation. I wanted to strengthen their understanding of safety, health, legal protection and psycho-emotional support issues, as this group often faces high risks of violence, discrimination and limited access to services. It was important to me that the participants not only gained knowledge, but also felt supported and valued/."

At the end of the training, all participants came to a common conclusion: sex workers must be involved in humanitarian planning processes. Our community faces risks that are not always visible from the offices of power. Our voice is the key to understanding real needs.

Photo of the second group of participants in the humanitarian planning training, Kyiv, 2025

Thanks to the training, we understood: our intuition, supported by standards, makes our position unshakeable and our assistance professional and safe. We finished with the feeling that we are not objects of assistance, but its professional architects. The same ones who build a system without heels, but with incredible stability and knowledge that saves lives.

The results of our training in numbers:

• 99% assimilation of humanitarian principles and ethics.
• 5 out of 5 — average rating of the trainer’s ability to explain complex issues through visualisation and build trust (Iryna Kobzeva, you are a rock star of the humanitarian sector!).
• 16 regional centres now have draft action plans in case of a crisis.

SOME DETAILS, IMPRESSIONS AND PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

In this photo: trainer Iryna and participants agree on the rules for sharing space

‘Internal compass’ or priorities in conditions of chaos and uncertainty

The beginning is always about getting to know each other and setting up for joint work. Both experienced leaders and new activists came to learn. So, in order to unite the group and create a safe atmosphere, we started not with protocols, but with a search for an «internal compass».

A creative exercise in visualising priorities helped the participants not only to get to know each other, but also to compare their own values with the mission of the community, find points of support in the context of war, and feel themselves among like-minded people. Establishing common ‘agreements’ created a space where it was possible to talk about painful issues without fear of judgement or condemnation.

In this photo: Participants search for their ‘inner compass’

Why patriotism is not a principle, and ‘Sphere’ is not a foundation

If our inner compass helps us find our own stability, then in order not to lose our way in the professional sea of ​​assistance, we need another reference point — the international standard under the name ‘Sphere’.

Sphere is, without exaggeration, the cornerstone of humanitarian activity. But to put it simply, Sphere is a set of rules that say that helping people during war or disasters should not just be good, but professional, dignified and high-quality.

In over five years of working in the humanitarian field, we discovered this tool for the first time, although we had been applying some of its principles intuitively in practice. So, at the beginning of the training, everything looked like a classic ‘intuition test.’ When the trainer asked about the basic principles of humanitarian aid, the answers were full of romanticism: ‘honesty,’ ‘speed,’ and even ‘patriotism.’ Some sincerely believed that the humanitarian cluster was the name of a computer programme and that the “Sphere” project was a charitable foundation.

However, by the end, the magic of transformation had taken place. Now, 100% of the participants know that the foundation is humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. It turned out that Sphere is not psychological support, but a strict international reference book of standards, with which volunteering ceases to be chaotic and becomes professional.

In this photo: participants visualise social perceptions of ‘typical’ and ‘atypical’ men

Gender stereotypes and coming out of the shadows: what community leaders kept quiet about

It was a touching and profound moment when formal training gave way to intimate trust during the module on gender and stereotypes. Participants analysed how gender bias had influenced their path as leaders.

A topic that seemed ‘familiar’ to many was revealed through personal stories that had previously been hidden deep inside. In those moments, the training turned into a real healing experience: one of the participants dared to voice her pain for the first time in her life, feeling the support of a ‘safe circle’.

In this photo: participants present social perceptions of ‘typical’ and ‘atypical’ women

Iryna Kobzeva, trainer: "I was most impressed by the openness of the participants — their ability to talk fearlessly about their experiences without fear, share difficult life situations, and tell how they managed to overcome crisis moments. The willingness of women to support each other and offer advice based on their own difficult experiences indicates a strong sense of mutual support within the community. Another important discovery was the realisation of how many participants strive not only to survive, but also to develop: to gain new knowledge and build a safer life."

For new activists, one of the outcomes of the discussion on gender stereotypes was debunking the myth that inclusion is just about having a ramp, and that gender is a ‘trendy Western fad’. Leaders shared their experiences with them about collecting disaggregated data, explaining that the needs of men, women, and vulnerable groups in crisis are not just different—they are different planets.

Ethics, ‘love’ and power imbalance

It was in an atmosphere of complete trust that we approached the most critical issue — PSEA (protection from sexual exploitation and abuse), because for sex workers, the topic of sexual exploitation is particularly acute due to their high vulnerability. This was the most transformative moment, the transition from ‘we are just helping’ to the realisation that helping is a huge responsibility and a certain power that must not be abused.

The central theme was the concept of power imbalance. Participants discussed the fine line between whether a ‘romantic’ relationship between a volunteer and a beneficiary is acceptable. At first, the majority democratically agreed that if a volunteer and a beneficiary love each other, then ‘why not?’

But after analysis and lively discussion, it became clear that any intimate proposal in such a context is not romance, but exploitation. The participants realised that when one person has food and the other is hungry, there can be no ‘voluntary consent’ by definition. Such behaviour in a work context is identified as a violation, and the algorithm of actions instead of ‘ignoring’ involves official reporting.

Therefore, for our community, PSEA is not an imposed rule, but a tool for self-protection. By implementing these standards, we make our community stronger and more protected. Protecting vulnerable people from abuse is part of our professional honour. As community leaders, we are aware of our role — we don’t just hand out aid, we are responsible for safety. We learn to see signs of exploitation where we might not have noticed them before and respond appropriately.

Iryna Kobzeva, trainer: ‘I will go home with a deep sense of gratitude for the level of trust and openness that participants gave me. I will be inspired by their courage and willingness to share experiences that require great inner strength.’

The next block on violence in wartime turned into group therapy, where participants shared their experiences not as victims, but as victors who had healed themselves and were ready to help others. The safe space created by the participants allowed many to speak out for the first time in the years of war.

A VOICE THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED

The main insight that permeated both trainings was a clear understanding: without sex workers themselves, humanitarian planning is like building a ship in the desert. The participants came to the conclusion that their involvement in response processes is not a bonus, but a prerequisite for effectiveness.

Healthy food, lots of movement and a little bit of secrecy in coffee conversations are essential for creating the right atmosphere.

Petro, training participant: ‘Sex workers must be involved in humanitarian planning and response. The principle of peer-to-peer helps to provide the necessary assistance to the most vulnerable sex workers. In my opinion, it is the community that should determine the needs and ways and means to meet those needs.’

The voice of the community is the ‘key’ to success because it allows to see the invisible: community representatives face risks of violence and stigma that often remain ‘blind spots’ for international donors. Only those who live within the community can provide accurate information about the real barriers to accessing services that cannot be seen from the outside. The participation of activists helps to develop support that really works because it is based on trust rather than stereotypes.

In addition, community involvement increases the visibility of self-organisation and allows them to directly influence decisions that affect their lives, safety and rights.

Hanna, training participant: "I am delighted with the presentation of the material. It is really informative and interesting. And I will definitely use this knowledge in the future, because sex workers should be involved in humanitarian planning and response, as they know better about the needs and problems of their community."

In this photo: Participants develop and visualise plans to create safe spaces for their clients.

Culmination: from ideas to actions

The finale was the development of action plans for the regions. Using visualization methods, all groups structured their chaotic thoughts into concrete steps. These plans were based not on intuition, but on a real analysis of needs and safety standards.

All participants left Kyiv with a clear message: they are no longer objects of aid, but subjects of change. Their knowledge of international standards and understanding of their own needs now allow them to act as equal partners in any humanitarian cluster. After all, no one knows the road better than the one who walks it every day!

In this photo: The participants proved that humanitarian response can be creative

The participants went home with knowledge and crash-test plans for their initiatives and a clear understanding: they are not just activists, they are part of a global system that works professionally, ethically and safely.

Trainer Iryna noted that she gained even more motivation to continue working with vulnerable groups and develop sensitive approaches. She advised the participants not to stop: to implement PSEA locally, involve girls in cluster meetings, and train new trainers within the community.

Iryna Kobzeva, trainer: “I would like to wish the community activists and the team of the Legalife-Ukraine unquenchable strength, confidence, and faith in the significance of their work. May your activities continue to create safe spaces where women can receive support, knowledge, and protection. I wish you to maintain unity, continue to stand up for your rights, and destroy the stigma that still surrounds the community. May your every step bring positive changes and bring society closer to greater respect, acceptance, and equality.”

Pictured: The fruits of women’s creative approach to humanitarian response

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is the only global mechanism created exclusively to support women’s participation in peace and security processes, as well as humanitarian assistance. Managed by a cross-sectoral network of civil society, governments and the UN, WPHF is a multi-partner trust fund that mobilizes urgently needed funding for local women-led organizations and works with women on the front lines to build lasting peace. Since 2016, WPHF has provided funding and supported the capacity of over 1,000 local women’s civil society organizations working on the Women, Peace and Security agenda and implementing humanitarian activities in 41 crisis-affected countries around the world.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but this does not imply that the views expressed or the content are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.

Text: team of the CO “Legalife-Ukraine”