Themes by tag: Kyiv

On April 30, the Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing titled “Expo 2025: How Ukraine Speaks to the World in the Language of Sustainability and Innovation.”

Participants:

– Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine. 

Key topics:

– Expo 2025: Why does Ukraine’s participation matter on the global stage?

– The concept behind Ukraine’s pavilion: a value store and immersive experience;

– The creation process: preparation challenges, logistics, and early impressions;

– The role and support of international partners in bringing the pavilion to life;

– Looking ahead: Ukraine’s National Day at Expo and future plans. 

For reference: From April 13 to October 13, 2025, Ukraine will participate in World Expo 2025, hosted in Osaka, Japan. This prestigious global event will feature over 160 participating countries and is expected to attract 28 million visitors. The theme for this year is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”

Ukraine’s pavilion, titled “Not For Sale,” is designed to resemble a store where nothing is for purchase. Instead of products, it features 18 symbolic objects, each representing a core human value such as freedom, dignity, and sustainability. Every object has a barcode that visitors can scan using special store scanners inside the pavilion. Instead of a price tag, the screen will display video stories from Ukraine that metaphorically reveal the cost the country pays for the right to education, freedom of choice, access to healthcare, and other fundamental rights.

• Kyiv

On April 30, Kyiv will host the presentation of Map, a new book by Andriy Zelinskyy, military chaplain of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Guests are invited to:

– Meet the author;

– Explore the main themes and symbols of the book;

– Take part in an open discussion;

– Join an autograph session. 

Media representatives are required to obtain accreditation to attend the event.

For reference: Andriy Zelinskyy is one of Ukraine’s first military chaplains. He serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation under the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, teaches in the Ethics-Politics-Economics program at the Ukrainian Catholic University, and is a co-founder of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy. He is also a political scientist, writer, publicist, and prominent public figure. His published works include Semen’s Stars, Sunflowers, My Journey to the Country of Marines, and Anatomy of a Warrior.

• culture
• Kyiv

The Kyiv Para Archery Championship will be held on April 30, bringing together athletes with musculoskeletal disorders, including veterans. The event aims to foster a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates sportsmanship and resilience. The Dmytro Lvovskyi Archery School invites all interested participants to join this friendly competition and experience the spirit of unity through sport.

For reference: The event is organized by the Invasport Kyiv City Center for Physical Culture and Sports for People with Disabilities. 

• Kyiv

On May 4, Kyiv will host a charity obstacle run to celebrate the founding of the 12th Special Operations Brigade “Azov”. Participants will tackle a 3-kilometer course designed to test their endurance.

To participate, runners must register and donate 800 UAH, with all proceeds going directly to support front-line soldiers.

• culture
• Kyiv

The “Women Solar Plant Installer” competition aims to train 30 Ukrainian women from five oblasts — Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv — in a new technical profession.

In the first phase, organizers have already selected 10 women who will be trained to install solar power systems. Their program begins on April 21 and will last several weeks, combining online and face-to-face sessions. Meanwhile, applications are still open for 20 more participants to take part in the free vocational training.

Upon completion, graduates will receive a certificate that qualifies them for employment in the solar energy industry. Top performers will receive job placement assistance.

Journalists are invited to cover the practical training session in Kyiv on May 9, subject to prior arrangement.

Background: The project is implemented by “Women in Tech Ukraine” and Greenpeace Ukraine, in partnership with the humanitarian organization “People in Need” and with the financial support of the Czech people.

• women
• Kyiv

Peaceful gatherings will be held in 28 cities to raise awareness for the defenders of Azovstal and other military personnel still held in enemy captivity.

On April 26, events will take place in Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Bila Tserkva, and Mykolaiv. On April 27, additional events are planned for Kyiv, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Dolyna, Kropyvnytskyi, Shostka, and Chernivtsi.

These actions are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Former prisoners of war who have been released from captivity will also participate in the events.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

In celebration of the second anniversary of the Union of Wounded Military of Ukraine, the traditional “Strong 300” fan race is set to take place. The event is scheduled for May 4 in Kyiv.

The “Strong 300” fan race aims to honor those who defended Ukraine, inspire those close to them, and unite civil society in support of those who truly deserve respect and care.

Participants will have the option to choose from several race distances: 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km, all featuring obstacles. A special paired race will also be held for veterans and their children. The event will include an expo of veterans’ organizations, live music performances, a food court, and a children’s area, as well as gifts and raffles. Participation is available with a donation to support veterans’ initiatives.

• culture
• Kyiv

The NGO “Psychability” focuses on the rehabilitation of Kyiv residents with mental disorders and advocates the restoration of comprehensive individual support services for them. Founded in 2019 on the basis of the community from the Center for Medical and Social Rehabilitation of the municipal non-profit enterprise “Clinical Hospital ‘Psychiatry'”, the organization now known as “Psychability” continues the work of medical and social rehabilitation of people with mental disorders. The center no longer exists due to budget cuts, but its former employees, clients and their relatives have united under the NGO “Psychability” to continue psychosocial rehabilitation efforts following a biopsychosocial approach.

Within the NGO “Psychability” there is an occupational therapy group and a psychotherapy group for clients. Clients also support each other and socialize through the community “Self-Support Group”, which operates under the guidance of specialists. The NGO organizes thematic workshops and psychotherapeutic group sessions for relatives and friends of the clients. They can also join a meeting club. At present, more than 30 people benefit from the programs of the NGO “Psychability”.

For more than a year, “Psychability” has been working to restore its “Personal Assistant for People with Mental Health Disorders” rehabilitation program. The role of such an assistant is to provide individualized support to help clients navigate daily life and reintegrate into society.

Currently, the NGO “Psychability” is looking for long-term donors to ensure the continuation of its medical and social rehabilitation services for Kyiv residents with mental disorders.

Interviews with “Psychability” members and clients (where possible) can be arranged online or in Kyiv upon prior notice.

• psychological support
• Kyiv

Echoes of Memory: Living Stories of Native Places” is a project that collects memories and photographs of places currently inaccessible due to war and preserves them for future generations. The initiative was launched by the NGO “ZNOvU”.

The team has created a website where anyone can share their personal stories and memories of their homeland.

Currently, the project includes 60 stories, and more are being added. These include memories from the Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson oblasts.

The co-founders of the NGO “ZNOvU” are Anastasiia Bieliaieva, originally from Nova Kakhovka, and Olha Koval, originally from Luhansk. Both Nova Kakhovka and Luhansk are currently under russian occupation.

By prior arrangement, journalists can communicate with Anastasiia Bieliaieva (online) and Olha Koval (in Kyiv or online). It is also possible to contact participants who have shared their stories on the website.

Background: The project is implemented by the NGO “ZNOvU” with the support of “Culture Helps”.

Since 2020, the NGO “ZNOvU” has been working on issues related to education, the impact of war on the lives of children and youth, and creating opportunities for educational and psychological support for families affected by war.

• culture
• Kyiv

On April 24, the Media Center Ukraine will host a presentation of the Transparency International Ukraine’s 2024 Report

Participants:
– Andrii Borovyk, Executive Director at Transparency International Ukraine.

Background: Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine) is the Ukrainian chapter of the global network focused on fighting corruption and implementing reforms. TI Ukraine supports the work of anti-corruption bodies (NABU, SAPO, HACC, ARMA), transparent public procurement, effective local governance, and more.

In 2024 alone, TI Ukraine’s public monitoring system helped save UAH 2 billion in public procurement.

Apart from many achievements of TI Ukraine, its recommendations on anti-corruption policy and public procurement were adopted by the European Commission and the IMF last year. In addition, the Ukrainian chapter helped launch a reform of the Accounting Chamber to strengthen oversight of state finances.

• Kyiv