Collaboration between Brovary and Erlangen: a partnership that strengthens communities.
The twin cities of Brovary and Erlangen continue to actively collaborate, strengthening ties between their communities even amidst the war. During an online meeting, Brovary's Mayor Ihor Sapozhko and representatives from the German twin city of Erlangen discussed key issues related to assistance and the development of their partnership, reports a correspondent from UNN.
Dialogue between cities: mutual support and future plans
Mayor Ihor Sapozhko opened the meeting with words of gratitude and expressed hope that the collaboration between the communities will persist in the future: "I hope our meetings will continue in the future." He emphasized the importance of the assistance that the community is receiving: "Thank you for the cooperation we have, as you have helped us significantly. These are the things that we critically need."
For his part, Erlangen's Mayor Florian Janik noted that the city continues to support Ukraine and Brovary. "Not only I, but the entire population sincerely supports Ukraine and understands our needs. The willingness to help is very high," said the Mayor of Erlangen.
Ihor Sapozhko added that the partnership between the cities has not only practical but also moral dimensions: "Our cooperation, our friendship, is about development and calling, not just development between communities."
The Mayor of Brovary also informed his colleagues about the security situation in the community, particularly the consequences of the shelling of Brovary by the Russian army.
Furthermore, the parties discussed assistance for internally displaced persons. "Currently, we have 22,500 people who have unfortunately lost their homes in the country," noted Ihor Sapozhko.
Florian Janik highlighted the active involvement of Erlangen residents in fundraising to support the Brovary community. "There are many people who are ready to conduct various initiatives in support. This includes not only the constant fundraising efforts that are sent to Ukraine but also individuals who independently offer help on various levels," he noted.
Ihor Sapozhko promised to prepare a list of current needs in the community. Regarding educational cooperation, he added: "Schools are constantly in need of assistance. Unfortunately, we are learning in such a way that we always need shelter. This includes furnishing and personal support for students. We would like our children to share and show what is happening with us, as war is a terrifying story that we are experiencing today. Communication with schools and educational institutions is important for us, so we will definitely identify the relevant institutions that will be happy to communicate with the children of Erlangen."
The topic of transportation was also raised. According to the Mayor of Brovary, the community needs several buses, even used ones, to establish a city route.
The parties expressed hope that in May of this year, delegations from Erlangen will be able to visit the Brovary community.
Ukrainian-German cooperation: strategic partnership
The collaboration between Brovary and Erlangen began in the summer of 2022 with a video introduction of community representatives. Erlangen has welcomed over 1,600 refugees from Ukraine, including residents of Brovary.
One of the first significant projects was the procurement of medical equipment for a hospital, costing over 3.9 million UAH. In 2023, the community received 9 units of specialized equipment, including ambulances and fire trucks.
In addition to humanitarian aid, cultural exchange is also developing. A number of educational initiatives have been organized, including photo exchanges among schoolchildren and joint sports activities.
The communal sector is also in focus. In August 2023, an online meeting took place between representatives of the water supply companies from both cities, marking the first step towards technical cooperation.
Thus, the partnership between the cities continues to evolve and yield concrete results in various spheres of community life.