Reintegration on Veterans’ Terms

Reintegration on Veterans’ Terms — Our Commitment in Action

June 30, 20251 min read

Reintegration on Veterans’ Terms — Our Commitment in Action

On May 27, The Borderlands Foundation co-hosted a practical workshop at American University Kyiv (AUK), centered on veteran reintegration — with veterans leading the conversation and shaping the path forward.

This event was made possible with the organizational support of the Corioli Institute, and in collaboration with our partners:

Tip of The Spear Landmine Removal Inc., Вікно Відновлення, Legacy of War Foundation, VeteranLink, and Міжнародний фонд "Відродження" .


What Does Reintegration Really Mean?

One of the most powerful moments came when a veteran participant shared that successful reintegration means “losing a sense of blame toward society.”

This deeply personal definition reminds us that reintegration is not only about policies and programs — it’s about rebuilding trust, identity, and belonging.


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Bridging Bottom-Up and Top-Down

The workshop explored how to better align grassroots innovation with top-down policy. In a rapidly growing support sector, preventing fragmentation and focusing on veteran-led priorities is more important than ever.


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From Experience to Strategy

The workshop followed a veterans-only session the day prior. On May 27, those same veterans moved from sharing their lived experiences to leading the design of reintegration strategies, shaping not just the conversation but the future of support in Ukraine.


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Thank You

We extend our sincere thanks to AUK for hosting, to the Corioli Institute for their organizational contribution, and to all our partner organizations. Most importantly, we thank the veterans and families who are showing us the way forward — on their terms.

#BorderlandsFoundation #VeteranVoices #CorioliInstitute #UkraineReconstruction #CivilSociety #VeteranLeadership


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