Taiwan in cooperation with the Pontis Foundation and the Open Society Foundation to support the recovery of Ukraine in the amount of 5 million US dollars
The Pontis Foundation, the Open Society Foundation, and the Taipei Representative Office in Slovakia signed a donation agreement at the Government Office of the Slovak Republic. They started a joint aid project to restore destroyed civil infrastructure in Ukraine. The donation of USD 5 million is also intended to support humanitarian projects of Slovak organisations operating in Ukraine.
The two largest Slovak foundations will redistribute five million US dollars in the coming months. The project will bring investments in the destroyed civil infrastructure in accordance with the priorities defined by the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure in Ukraine or other relevant institutions in Ukraine. The negotiations on the donation by Taiwan were led by the Chairperson of the Council of Advisors to the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Elena Kohútiková, together with the Government’s Representative for the Development of Civil Society, Filip Vagač.
“I am glad that we found a unique cooperation model between a foreign funder, representatives of state bodies and non-governmental organisations, which came together with a clear and noble goal of helping Ukraine. It is a big deal, and I want to thank the head of the Taipei representative office in Bratislava, Mr David Nan-Yang Lee, for his extremely constructive approach to the negotiations,” says Elena Kohútiková.
“With this donation, we reaffirm our strong commitment to Ukraine, to show that Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping. I would like to thank the Office of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for the very effective cooperation in ensuring that the provision of this much-needed aid is as targeted and transparent as possible. Taiwan is a force for good, and I hope that this donation will help in the reconstruction of Ukraine on its path to prosperity,” says the donor’s representative, head of the Taipei representation office in Bratislava, David Nan-Yang Lee.
Renovations of schools and hospitals will take place primarily in the Chernihiv region. The project will also support the humanitarian activities of Slovak non-profit organisations operating in Ukraine. Part of the donation will be used to increase the fundraising carried out in Slovakia to support Ukraine. A steering committee composed of project partners will be responsible for the final selection of supported projects.
“We are delighted to support projects that promote cooperation and help those in need. Cooperation with the Taipei representative office in Slovakia will allow us to support organisations involved in Ukraine and help restore the infrastructure destroyed by the Russian aggressor,” says Martina Kolesárová, executive director of the Pontis Foundation.
“With this project, the two largest Slovak foundations join the already existing activities of the state and humanitarian non-profit organisations in Ukraine. Thanks to the generous donation from Taiwan, the scope of the reconstruction work will be Slovakia’s largest contribution to restoring the destroyed civil infrastructure in Ukraine so far,” explains Fedor Blaščák, administrator of the Open Society Foundation.
“Five million US dollars is a significant donation, which, in addition to the necessary investments in Ukraine, also represents a unique opportunity for the Slovak non-profit sector to develop further and deepen cooperation with Ukrainian institutions,” adds the Government Plenipotentiary for the Development of Civil Society, Filip Vagač.
