#TogetherWeActFest – Khmelnytskiy opened a series of regional public events

On June 22, Khmelnytskiy hosted the #TogetherWeActFest – Khmelnytskiy, organised by the European Union Delegation to Ukraine in cooperation with NGO “Fishermen’s Club of Ukraine”.

42 sub-grant projects in the field of the civil society sector are being implemented in the Khmelnytskiy region with the support of the EU. In total, 63 grant and 1,877 EU sub-grant projects are currently operating in Ukraine today, and the amount of aid to CSOs has exceeded 104 million euros.

The key event of the #TogetherWeActFest – Khmelnytskiy was the panel discussion “EU and Ukraine: Partnership, Support, and Future.” Representatives of the EU and local authorities, along with civil society activists, discussed how the priorities of the European Union’s funding for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ukraine have shifted since the onset of Russia’s full-scale war and how EU support has impacted communities and the capacity of CSOs. The discussion was attended by Mariana Kaminska, communication coordinator of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Inna Mykhaylova, director of the department of information activities, culture, nationalities and religions of the Khmelnytskiy regional state administration, Tetyana Sych, regional coordinator of the Khmelnytskiy branch of the “Rokada” charity foundation, Yehor Rybak, head of the Khmelnytskiy branch NGO “Fishermen’s Club of Ukraine”.

Yehor Rybak, head of the Khmelnytskiy branch of the NGO “Fishermen’s Club of Ukraine”: “The support of the European Union was and is significant and very important for us. It is extremely valuable that it arrived on time, especially in the conditions of war, which none of us faced, but it was necessary to act. Our organization had to change its place of residence, so when we first moved to Khmelnytskiy, we called ourselves relocated, and now, thanks to the support of the European Union, we not only feel confident, but also expanded our activities, extending them to almost all of Ukraine, and our branches work in 14 regions. In the same way, hundreds of civil society organizations work throughout Ukraine, which know the high price of timely and concrete support of the EU, and we act together!”

The organisers of #TogetherWeActFest extended invitations not only to CSOs and their partners but also to the wider public. The communication campaign “Together We Act. Together We Are Europe” aims to both inform Ukrainians about the EU’s support for civil society and actively engage citizens in collaborative efforts.

The EU Delegation to Ukraine operated an information booth at the festival, where visitors had the opportunity to learn about the EU’s comprehensive support for Ukraine and participate in the interactive quest titled “Together. Europe and Ukraine”. The festival also featured thematic and interactive zones, and a #TogetherWeAct photo zone. Consultations, public discussions, and master classes for all ages were held. Additionally, the Euroclub “European Space” of the Khmelnytskiy Regional Library for Youth hosted a master class on educational board games.

The Alley of Civil Society Organisations “Solidarity” presented CSOs of the Khmelnytskiy region that are well known in the region. The “Solidarity” Alley supplemented the #TogetherWeAct exposition, which showcases civil society organisations that have received support from the European Union since the onset of the full-scale war. The exhibition opened in Khmelnytskiy on June 13 and will continue until June 23.

As EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, has repeatedly emphasized, Ukrainian society has shown incredible resilience, having quickly adapted to new conditions and become a partner of the government in defending the country. Since February 24, 2022, we have tripled our funding for the civil society sector, recognizing its pivotal role in driving positive change for Ukraine and its people in the process of reconstruction and European integration.

Background information:

#TogetherWeActFest – Khmelnytskiy launched a series of regional events as part of the Together We Act. Together We Are Europe communication campaign, implemented by the European Union Delegation to Ukraine. The campaign aims to inform Ukrainians about the EU’s unprecedented and unwavering support for Ukraine, particularly for civil society organisations (CSOs) and independent media since the onset of the full-scale war. This assistance has enabled CSOs and media to protect human rights, advocate for vulnerable groups, enhance public oversight and accountability of government bodies, and facilitate the implementation of reforms. The campaign’s first major public event, #TogetherWeAct Fest, took place in Kyiv on May 25 and attracted over 3,000 attendees. The next events of the campaign will take place in Rivne (June 30), Vinnytsya (July 13), and Cherkasy (July 27).

The Together We Act. Together We Are Europe communication campaign showcases the European Union’s support for civil society and independent media. Running from May to July 2024 across the entire territory of Ukraine, except for occupied territories and combat zones, the campaign features informational and educational events, interactive sessions, discussions, and seminars involving CSOs, the public, and media representatives. Press tours and media meetings are also planned as part of the campaign.

Informational partner of the campaign – Suspilne.

To learn more about the communication campaign “Together We Act. Together We Are Europe” visit the official website or follow the pages of the EU Delegation to Ukraine on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.

Contacts:

Tetiana Voronina, media expert, EU Project Communicating EU for Ukrainians (CEU4U), which is being implemented by Ecorys, tvoronina9@gmail.com, +38 067 501 11 83