The use of cultural heritage as a factor of social work to strengthen the cohesion of the community

Abstract

The article examines the use of cultural heritage as a factor in social work aimed at strengthening the cohesion of Ukraine’s territorial communities amid contemporary challenges, including Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and large-scale population displacement. It defines the essence of cultural heritage and its core components – the community’s material and intangible cultural assets. It is substantiated that cultural heritage functions not only as a historical value but also as a resource of a community’s social capital, capable of facilitating the integration of diverse social groups, reducing social tensions, and forging a shared identity. A theoretical analysis of scholarly sources and practical cases demonstrates the significance of local cultural initiatives for community development, especially under conditions of war and recovery.

The article considers the case of Gymnasium No. 26 of the Odesa City Council and highlights the experience of establishing the interactive museum “Staroportofrankivska – The Street of Educational Institutions,” which combines local-history, educational, and socio-pedagogical components. The engagement of students, parents, alumni, local historians, and philanthropists fostered shared responsibility for cultural heritage and active community partnerships. The impact of the war on the museum’s activities is noted. The museum’s integrative potential for internally displaced persons is revealed: through familiarisation with Odesa’s history, they felt greater belonging to the host community. The museum also demonstrated its potential to support a “Point of Invincibility” (resilience hub) on the school’s premises.

It is concluded that local cultural-historical initiatives, even within a single educational institution, can have a significant impact on the social cohesion of the community. The project at Gymnasium No. 26 confirmed the importance of partnerships among education, culture, and the community in preserving and promoting heritage.