Despite ongoing dangers, Ukrainians remain steadfast in preserving their history and cultural heritage while building a secure, democratic future for the next generations. This week, we highlight the European tour of our “Ukraine in Miniature” exhibition, raising awareness of the threats to Ukraine’s cultural heritage. We will also cover our partners’ successful humanitarian fundraising efforts, and the upcoming forum dedicated to Ukraine’s EU accession.
Stay tuned to keep up with the news of Ukrainian civil society!
In the past few months, our traveling exhibition “Ukraine in Miniature” has visited 5 countries: Finland, Latvia, France, Hungary, and Germany. With this exhibition, we aimed to highlight Ukraine’s cultural significance in the broader European context and illustrate the extensive destruction caused by Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion.
“Ukraine in Miniature” features 29 3D models of Ukrainian landmarks, including buildings that have already been destroyed due to military aggression. The exhibition also includes works by contemporary Ukrainian composers and a VR tour. In total, over 7,500 visitors from around the world have experienced the exhibition and learned about Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
Civil society news
Community Foundation of Kherson “Zakhyst” Reports on Humanitarian Aid Efforts
On September 11, the Community Foundation of Kherson “Zakhyst” published a report on their assistance to city residents since March 2022. The organization raised nearly USD 1.5 million in support, allocating close to USD 750,000 for humanitarian aid to vulnerable residents, USD 280,000 for rescue teams, USD 250,000 for hospitals, and nearly USD 150,000 for educational institutions.
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Razumkov Center Analyzes Ukraine’s Integration with the European Union
On September 12, the Razumkov Center held a discussion titled “Results, Prospects, and Directions of EU Convergence: Opportunities for Ukraine.” Invited experts focused on the socio-economic convergence of post-socialist EU countries.
The Razumkov Center also presented an analytical report that gathers insights from national experts on Ukraine’s socio-economic and political situation on its path to EU integration.
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USAID/ENGAGE Partner Raises Over USD 66,000 for Ukraine Through Its Summer Festival Tour
On September 11, UAME shared a report on its fundraising efforts for Ukrainian humanitarian needs during the summer festival season. Over the summer, UAME participated in 16 major music festivals, including the Sziget Festival (Hungary), Open’er Festival (Poland), and Pohoda Festival (Slovakia). At these festivals, the organization raised awareness among European audiences about the war in Ukraine and encouraged financial support for those affected by Russia’s aggression. In total, UAME raised over USD 66,000.
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The New Europe Center (NEC) to Host Forum on Ukraine’s EU Accession
On September 19, New Europe Center will host the 3rd EU Accession Exchange Forum. The event aims to bring together politicians, experts, thought leaders, media representatives, and officials from both candidate countries and EU member states to address key issues related to the accession process and foster intergovernmental dialogue to expedite Ukraine’s EU membership.
The event will take place on September 19 and will be broadcast online starting at 9:30 AM (GMT +3) on the NEC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Opportunities
USAID/ENGAGE’s partners have the following job openings:
- SMM Manager at Smart Osvita CSO: https://bit.ly/3ZnyJwN
- Head of Communications Department at Ukrainian Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4d4r0a4
- Community Manager at Ukrainian Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/3B3I6Yo
- Program Expert for Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa at Ukrainian Institute: https://bit.ly/3L1vC5p
- Program Expert for Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico) at Ukrainian Institute: https://bit.ly/3L1vC5p
What we read
“Special Cultural Operation”
The article from NGL Media discusses valuable cultural and historical artifacts from Kherson that were stolen by the Nazis during World War II. These items were removed to showcase the Nazis’ perceived superiority and cultural dominance. After Ukraine gained independence, the artifacts were returned to Kherson in 1994 following negotiations between Ukraine and Germany. Now, Ukraine is compelled to once again fight for the return of its cultural heritage, as the artifacts were stolen anew by Russian occupiers during their withdrawal from Kherson in 2022.
