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23/09/2022
Friendly Visit

On September 21, Martin Schroeder, Head of the Local and Human Development Section at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, visited East Europe Foundation. We presented our Projects and Programs, and shared the results of our joint activities and plans for the future.

The European Union is one of the largest donors to East Europe Foundation. Over the past eighteen months, we have implemented the following programs with funds from the European Union:

  • 3D Project: Development Despite Disruption, which helped nongovernmental organizations adapt to the new reality that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic by applying civic tech tools designed to  simplify communication between the government and the public.
  • Resilience Program, which aims to help nongovernmental organizations, including the media, to continue their activities during the wartime.
  • Civilian Population Protection Program, which we are implementing together with Hala Systems Inc. and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Together with partners, we are working to raise public awareness of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats (CBRN-hazards).
  • Microgrants for Small Businesses – 300 micro- and small enterprises affected by russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine receive financing to carry out their business activities.

“I have been working at the EU Delegation to Ukraine for more than six years. And now I’m happy to be back here for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian civil society is very strong. Without common efforts, the situation would have been much worse. In the wartime, everyone becomes a volunteer. And I am very grateful to East Europe Foundation for supporting the civil society,” said Martin Schroeder.

Together, we plan to implement two other programs: 

  • SpilnoDiia (or Joint Community Action) Program to contribute to capacity-building of volunteer groups.
  • Phoenix Program, which is aimed to strengthen cooperation between IDPs and their communities to facilitate Ukraine’s recovery.

“From the very first days, we started helping Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes. This is how the Shelter Project was established. So far we have provided support to 20 organizations equipping 40 shelters. We are very grateful to the European Union, which was one of the first donors to support this initiative. And now we are directing our efforts to ensure that civil society plays an important role in the process of rebuilding Ukraine,” said Viktor Liakh, President of East Europe Foundation.