NP-UN National Affairs Desk/UCC National.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) welcomes the announcement of over $25 million in support for Ukraine, made December 8 by Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, during a meeting with the UCC.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women who play a crucial role in the health care, education and small business sectors.
“Investing in opportunities for women and the most vulnerable and marginalized is an investment in the future of the country,” stated Minister Gould. Through these initiatives, they have the potential to become powerful agents of change, uniting their voices with those of all the other Ukrainian people working to restore political and economic stability.”
“The UCC commends the Government of Canada for its continued strong support of Ukraine as the Ukrainian people bravely defend their country from Russia's aggression and face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “This support is crucial and we look forward to continuing to work with the Minister of International Development to ensure that Canada continues to make an important difference.”
The individual components of this support are as follows:
Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada and local partner All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation “Gorenie”: $5.1 million
Through the project Supporting Economic Prosperity for Women and Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine, the foundations will help internally displaced persons, women with disabilities and women living in rural or peri-urban areas in the regions of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk to find jobs in existing garment enterprises or create livelihoods through entrepreneurship to meet the basic needs of their families.
SOCODEVI and local partner Dnipropetrovsk Agricultural Advisory Service: $7.9 million
The project Entrepreneurship Development for Conflict-Affected Rural Population in Eastern Ukraine (WeProsper) will focus on supporting women-led agricultural value chains and promoting sustainable agricultural production, rural women’s economic empowerment and increased distribution of products by establishing agri-food cooperatives. This project supports women and the most vulnerable and marginalized living in rural Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
ACTED: $4.3 million
The project Securing Women’s Economic Empowerment in Donbas will target rural women, the elderly, unemployed women and men of pre-retirement age, single-headed households with multiple children, and youth, including those who have been internally displaced. This project aims at creating economic opportunities for the most vulnerable, conflict-affected populations of the Donbas region through livelihood grants, small business training and a savings and loans initiative.
Pact Inc.: $7.8 million
Women Included: Nurturing Growth and Security (WINGS) supports women directly through skills and business development activities, including finding employment or starting a business. It targets Roma women, women with disabilities, survivors of gender-based violence, women who have served prison sentences, women living with HIV, veterans, widows and internally displaced persons.
United Nations Population Fund: $7 million
The Achieving Municipal Breakthrough in Effective Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Ukraine (AMBER) project aims to increase security and protection from sexual and gender-based violence for women and girls in Ukraine by supporting a prevention and response system in municipalities and communities across the country.
The UCC delegation included representatives of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, UCC Advisory Council and UCC Provincial Councils. During the meeting with Minister Gould, the UCC delegation briefed the Minister on projects and programs undertaken by the Ukrainian Canadian community in support of the Ukrainian people and outlined the community's views and recommendations on further priorities.
Share on Social Media
