From 8 to 11 July 2024, an exchange and networking trip to Germany (Berlin and Schwerin) took place within the framework of the project ‘Local Resilience and Recovery: Potential of Ukrainian Civil Society in Chernihiv Oblast’.

The delegation consisted of community leaders and representatives of NGOs from Chernihiv Oblast. The NGO ‘Chernihiv European’ was represented by Natalia Shakun, Head of the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the National University ‘Chernihiv Polytechnic’, who participated in the presentation of the study ‘Civil Society of Chernihiv Region: Resilience Factors, Urgent Needs, Participation in Reconstruction’.

The programme of the visit included meetings with the Department for European and International Urban Development Policy of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Affairs and Building; representatives of the S04 (Stabilisation and Reform) Department of the Federal Foreign Office; the Department for Cooperation in Municipal Development of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities (Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund); the President and members of various parliamentary factions of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; representatives of the Youth Council of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; and the representatives of local German organisations (Caritas Schwerin, Red Cross of Grevesmühlen).

The participants of the meetings discussed and planned cooperation in the field of education and science, cultural exchanges, exchange of experience in various fields, humanitarian aid, support for democracy and protection of human rights.

The study tour was organised by the German-Ukrainian Bureau within the framework of the project ‘Local Resilience and Recovery: Potential of Ukrainian Civil Society in Chernihiv Oblast’ with the financial support of the German Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb).