A few days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the commune of Strassen on 10 March ” to offer a place for Ukrainian refugees in Luxembourg to gather. “Since the first weeks of the war, Strassen was engaged in helping Ukrainian people that came to Luxembourg,” Martine Dieschburg-Nickels, a member of the municipal council of Strassen, told Paperjam. With a garden, activities for children, furniture and wifi, the Ukraine House gave people the opportunity to connect and to find a “bit of normality.”
Managed by Iurii Skobel and thanks to the help of volunteers, the house now also provides art and dance lessons, language classes and other programmes for the community. But the Ukrainescht Haus also works with other local groups, added Luiza Noculak, who’s in charge of intercultural living together at the municipality of Strassen. An association of seniors who produce handicrafts, for instance, donates part of the money to the Ukraine House.
“You can always get a cup of coffee, have a discussion and meet people,” said Dieschburg-Nickels. “It has really become a social centre where locals and Ukrainians meet.” It’s a big project, but “I think we are a real model for other cities in other countries.”
Aid is based on several pillars
When the war started, governments began to provide aid to the people of Ukraine. “But very quickly, it was clear that this aid is also based on several pillars, and one of the major pillars is that of the local communities,” said Dieschburg-Nickels, who will moderate a panel on the role of local communities and humanitarian aid centres. “So our forum is about: how can the local communities interact? How can we--as local communities from other countries--help the local communities of Ukraine?”
The topic of the ‘Bridges of Solidarity’ forum, which is organised by the commune of Strassen and will take place in the Centre Culturel Paul Barblé on 13 November, aims to help cities exchange ideas about humanitarian and social initiatives. The programme includes discussions on the role of local communities, rehabilitation projects as an integral part of recovery and new challenges in the humanitarian aid sector, with speakers coming from cities and associations both in Ukraine and Luxembourg.
The conference will also feature presentations from students--to give them a voice and an opportunity to speak about their “vision of the future,” said Noculak--and school directors on how schools can get involved. “It’s a very good opportunity to make them aware of what they could do for Ukrainian youths,” added Dieschburg-Nickels.
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“We as the City of Luxembourg are absolutely committed to continuing to support Ukraine,” , alderman at the City of Luxembourg, told Paperjam following a meeting at city hall between local and Ukrainian representatives. “Our city has taken its responsibility from the beginning” by welcoming Ukrainians to the grand duchy and sending aid. The situation is “dramatic” and Western countries have an obligation to help wherever possible, he added. “This visit [by Ukrainian mayors and NGO representatives] has been very important to create awareness among the community in Luxembourg,” and the forum should also help remind people of what is happening less than 2,000km from here.
Find out more about the forum and register .