Inspiring Networking: A Meeting of Peer Group Facilitators

Recently, the first networking meeting for peer group facilitators took place in Kyiv, bringing together facilitators and participants alike.

The goal of this meeting was to support and inspire people, giving them a space to talk at a relaxed pace about anything on their minds—whether professional, personal, or anything else that concerns them. “The format of such meetings is quite flexible. For example, some professionals discussed topics from their field—several doctors shared insights from the WONCA conference. Meanwhile, other colleagues focused on techniques for restoring their energy. It turned out to be a mix of support, learning, and simply being together,” noted Olha Korolenko, the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building coordinator.

The event featured guest speakers Pavlo Kovtonyuk, co-founder of the Ukrainian Healthcare Center (UHC), and Yevheniia Aratovska, environmental activist, social entrepreneur, and founder of the NGO “No Waste Ukraine.” During his session, Pavlo shared his thoughts on life, medicine, and seemingly unrelated topics that, in fact, are closely connected to healthcare. Yevheniia inspired everyone with her story, talking about her journey in founding “No Waste Ukraine,” her motivations, values, and what drives her forward. She spoke about the power of community, the importance of change, and how each of us plays a role in making those changes happen.

In addition to the guest talks, the event included open-space discussions, where participants formed small groups based on their interests and engaged in conversations about topics that mattered most to them.

We are sincerely grateful to the peer group facilitators—Anastasiia Hibeskul, Maryna Opalenko, Olena Lemeshko, and Anna Ostafiichuk who moderated the event and made it truly special and inspiring.

“This was an event full of hugs, smiles, conversations, listening, inspiration… and even board games! A completely new approach where the main goal was to talk and simply be together. During one of the activities, there was even a space for silence! Spreading this energy and motivation to even more healthcare professionals is our goal,” said Anastasiia Hibeskul, a family doctor and event facilitator.

“Events like this help restore our energy. They reinforce the understanding that I, you, we—all of us—are part of a community that drives change, inspires others, and creates a supportive environment for continuous professional and personal growth,” shared Tetiana Horiuk, a nurse and event participant.

Such meetings once again confirm that the community of peer group facilitators is all about mutual support and inspiration. These informal gatherings are where strong connections are built, and inspiring ideas take shape, driving further growth. We are grateful to everyone who joined and shared their thoughts and energy. We sincerely hope that this format will become a good tradition.