Rebuilding Ukraine: Denmark boosts Mykolaiv's growth with new community development project

Photo: Mykolaiv City Council

Alvina Kaminska

Denmark will provide financial support for a community development project aimed at helping vulnerable groups in the regional center of Mykolaiv.

The Mykolaiv City Council reports this.

What is the problem?

Since Russia's large-scale invasion, Denmark has poured over 180 million dollars into infrastructure projects in the Mykolaiv region. And this is just the start – Ukraine expects ongoing support from the Danish government and increased business collaborations.

"This country is a true friend and partner of the Mykolaiv region because this is the first successful project when a European state takes under its care and establishes relations of a special nature with the Ukrainian region," emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, during the opening of the Office of the Danish Embassy in Ukraine.

In turn, the Minister of Defense of Denmark Rasmussen added that the reconstruction of Ukraine cannot wait until the end of the war with Russia.

Dmytro Kuleba mentioned that this is the first project in which a European country is providing support for a region in Ukraine.

"I asked my colleague to launch a project that will allow local authorities of the Mykolaiv region to gain access to support programs for the regions of the European Union. Mykolaiv officials of village, city, and regional authorities will learn how to work with EU money," Kuleba explained.

What is the solution?

As a result of Denmark's financial assistance, a project has been initiated in Mykolaiv to promote community development and aid vulnerable groups in the population.

"A new project of community development and support of vulnerable population categories is being launched in Mykolaiv. The organizations "Ukrainian Educational Platform" and "Youth of Ukraine" are the main executors," the message emphasized.

^{Photo: Mykolaiv City Council}

In connection with this, a memorandum was signed in Mykolaiv aimed at unifying and coordinating the efforts of all participants. The document was signed by:

• Oleksandr Sienkevych, mayor of the city,
• head of the "Ukrainian Educational Platform" Iryna Kosar,
• the head of "Youth of Ukraine" Maksym Kovalenko.

Photo: Mykolaiv City Council

How does it work?

It is noted that 45 grants of $15,000 each are expected to be provided as part of the project.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark allocated about 25 million hryvnias for the Mykolaiv region. They will be received by public organizations, charitable foundations, religious communities, and condominiums of Mykolaiv to implement their initiatives on the ground," Kovalenko said.

^{Photo: Mykolaiv City Council}

Representatives of the Danish non-governmental organization DanChurchAid also attended the event:

• head of DCA programs in Ukraine, Marianna van Vliet,
• DCA grant program employee in Ukraine, Nadiia Krute.

DanChurchAid will provide grants.

^{Photo: Mykolaiv City Council}

Currently, the first stage of the project is starting, which involves:

• Educating and training the organizations that will receive funding;
•  Identifying and addressing the most pressing needs of the community.

The second stage, in which the actual implementation of the competition ideas is planned, will start in April.

Mayor Sienkevych thanked the community for its support during the war, stressing that such initiatives make Mykolaiv stronger.

"Denmark is our good friend. The kingdom has already provided us with very important help. With its support, a strategic document is being developed – the Master Plan, which will become the basis of the city's post-war reconstruction," the mayor said.

For reference:

It should be noted that Mykolaiv received assistance in the amount of 5 million euros from partners from Denmark.