Slovakia Helps Taiwan to Rebuild Ukraine Through 51 Projects Worth Over Five Million Dollars
The war against Ukraine has lasted over thousand days. Addressing the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion while it continues is challenging. However, an innovative Slovak-Ukrainian partnership project focused on infrastructure reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and civil society development has achieved tangible results. This unique collaboration between the Slovak and Ukrainian non-governmental sectors and the Taipei Representative Office in Slovakia initiated support for projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine. Thanks to this cooperation, between the years 2023 and 2024 the Open Society Foundation and the Pontis Foundation supported projects and organizations in Ukraine, particularly in the Chernihiv region, to help address the damage caused by the Russian aggression.
In 2023, the Open Society Foundation and the Pontis Foundation received a significant donation of five million dollars from the Taipei Representative Office in Slovakia, which enabled the implementation of 51 projects.
“This program is not just about providing aid but also about collective efforts to defend the values of democracy and freedom,” emphasized François Chihchung Wu, State Secretary of the Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Solidarity Without Borders
The assistance was focused on three areas. The largest portion of the support went to reconstruction of destroyed civil infrastructure. Seventeen projects, totaling nearly four million euros, included the restoration of schools, hospitals, construction of mobile houses for people forced to leave their homes, and investments in building air-raid shelters. Shelters at schools, with a combined area of more than four thousand square meters, allowed thousands of children and teachers to safely return to classrooms after nearly four years of the pandemic and war. Currently, schools in Ukraine can only hold in-person classes if they have a functional shelter.
“For Slovakia, helping Ukraine is crucial because its fate is not just a question of one country but also for our shared security and future within the democratic world. Our assistance is not just a humanitarian gesture. It is an investment in stability, peace, freedom, and the values upon which our society is built,” said Michal Kišša, Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation.
The second area of support involved immediate humanitarian aid, with 18 projects primarily run by Slovak organizations that have been active in Ukraine for a long time. In cooperation with local partners, they distributed humanitarian aid, including hygiene supplies, generators, winter fuel, and equipment for schools and hospitals. This aid was primarily targeted at seniors, families with children, and displaced residents in remote areas who are most dependent on this type of assistance. After a missile attack in April 2024, urgent aid, including a defibrillator and medicines, was provided to a hospital in Chernihiv.
The final area was the support of 16 crowdfunding campaigns. This part of the program motivated individuals to contribute to meaningful initiatives, creating a positive wave of helping that raised over one million euros from individual donors. One of the most significant campaigns was the one for the demining machine “Božena,” which, with Taiwan’s contribution of hundred thousand euros, raised over 600 thousand euros in total. Another major success was the “Ambulances for Ukraine” campaign, supported in three rounds with 45 thousand euros from the program, raising over 700 thousand euros in total.
In addition to large-scale campaigns, smaller local initiatives also showed results. These projects provided immediate humanitarian aid, school supplies, and educational support, enabling local communities to address their most urgent needs.
“The program, which was possible thanks to the Taiwan’s donation, was a major challenge for us. We had to secure reliable partners, ensure effective use of funds, and act quickly. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of everyone involved, we made it possible. We achieved great results in just 14 months, leaving a joint Slovak-Taiwanese mark on Ukraine. I want to thank the Taiwanese government for its support. We will continue helping Ukraine,” said Fedor Blaščák, Director of the Open Society Foundation.
Detailed results of the program are available at Taiwansupportsukraine.sk.
Program Highlights:
$5,000,000: Total value of the financial support provided to Ukraine.
- 51 supported projects, including:
- 17 infrastructure reconstruction projects,
- 18 humanitarian and special projects,
- 16 crowdfunding initiatives;
- 29 grant recipients and over 50 partner organizations involved in project implementation;
- 14 renovated shelters in educational institutions, totaling over 4,000 m²;
- improved safety for over 6,000 residents;
- 12 mobile homes for over 30 people;
- more than €1 million raised through crowdfunding campaigns.
- 1 award for the best reconstruction initiative in the Chernihiv region from the International Republican Institute (IRI).
