Themes by tag: 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

On April 24, the Media Center Ukraine will host a press conference “Medicines for people: Does pharmaceutical market reform bring fairness to patients?”

Participants:
– Dmytro Sherembei, Head of the Coordinating Council of the NGO “100% Life”;
– Vitalii Pashkov, Professor, Senior Researcher at the Department of Copyright and Related Rights of the Institute of Intellectual Property of the National Academy of Law Sciences of Ukraine;
– Nataliia Hutorova, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, Chair of the Board of the NGO “Association of Medical and Pharmaceutical Law”;
– Oksana Kashyntseva, Head of the Department of Research on Intellectual Property Rights and Human Rights in Health Care at the Institute of Intellectual Property of the National Academy of Law Sciences of Ukraine.

Key topics:
– Will patients really benefit from the reform?
– How well justified and systemic will the changes be?
– Is the reform in line with EU requirements and best practices?
– What further steps are needed to establish fair and effective market rules?

Background: A large-scale reform of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market has been launched to address systemic problems. The President of Ukraine and the National Security and Defense Council have identified this reform as a priority. Recently, the Verkhovna Rada passed Law No. 4239, which gave a significant boost to the de-monopolization and de-shadowing of the market. Work is now underway on the relevant regulations. Following agreements with leading domestic producers, the prices of the 100 most important medications have been reduced.

• Kyiv

The Kyiv Hippodrome is currently home to over 300 horses of trapping and riding breeds. It is one of the few places in Ukraine where equestrian sports have been preserved. Every Sunday the hippodrome hosts horse races, training sessions and competitions in show jumping and dressage. There are several riding schools and a veterinary clinic on the premises. In addition, veterans have the opportunity to participate in free therapeutic horseback riding sessions every week.

The Kyiv Hippodrome is currently facing financial difficulties. The most pressing need is to improve the track surface to ensure safer and more effective horse trials and competitions.

Journalists are welcome to cover how the Kyiv Hippodrome functions during wartime.

Background: Kyiv Hippodrome was founded in the 1960s and remains Ukraine’s central racetrack. At the start of the full-scale invasion, the Hippodrome faced numerous challenges. Securing food for the horses was extremely difficult. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, horse owners and the Hippodrome administration, supplies were eventually arranged – even from Europe.

Another major problem was getting through checkpoints to feed and vet the horses. There was also a wartime shortage of grooms and caretakers.

The animals suffered greatly from loud explosions and air raid sirens. Horses have acute hearing and can detect sounds from miles away, so the constant noise causes them severe stress.

• animals
• Kyiv

Anastasiia Hondiul and Anna Lobova, wives of Ukrainian prisoners of war and members of the Olenivka Community NGO, are preparing for an indefinite hunger strike set to begin in the capital on April 24. Their husbands, Artem Hondiul and Oleh Lobov, defended Mariupol, surrendered on the orders of their command and survived the terrorist attack in Olenivka.

Anastasiia and Anna say they are taking this step because of the silence of the Ukrainian authorities. Through their hunger strike, the women aim to draw public and government attention to the soldiers who remain in enemy captivity.

The women will remain in the city center during the day, while at night (during the curfew) they will seek shelter in a safe place.

Journalists can speak with the women both online and offline by prior arrangement.

Background: The defense of Mariupol lasted 86 days, ending on May 20, 2022. On the night of July 28-29, 2022, russia committed a terrorist act by blowing up a barracks in the Olenivka penal colony, where Ukrainian POWs were held. At least 50 defenders of “Azovstal” were killed, and over a hundred were injured.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

On April 23, the Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will host a presentation of an awareness campaign for farmers on the state mine action compensation program

Participants:

– Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine;

– Volodymyr Baida, Director of the Center for Humanitarian Demining;

– Maria Gutsman, Team Leader for the Inclusive Development, Recovery, and Peacebuilding (IDRPB) at UNDP Ukraine

– Oleh Khomenko, General Director of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club;

– Leonid Kozachenko, President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation.

For reference: Since the beginning of the year, farmers have submitted 225 applications to participate in the state compensation program for the demining of agricultural land. Of these, 189 were rejected by the Humanitarian Demining Center for failing to meet legal requirements. 

As of mid-April, 13 auctions have been conducted, resulting in nearly UAH 291 million allocated for the clearance of 4,300 hectares of farmland. The program’s total budget stands at UAH 3 billion, and the Ministry of Economy aims to clear as much agricultural land as possible within these funding limits.

• Kyiv
• demining