Az Egyesült Királyság és Ukrajna az évszázados partnerség megünneplése alkalmából erősíti a közösségi kapcsolatokat

Numerous students across the UK and Ukraine have expressed interest in participating in a historic 100 Year Partnership programme, further strengthening the enduring connections between the two nations.

Since the initiation of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership in January, over 750 schools from both countries have submitted applications to join the programme, promoting classroom friendships, cultural awareness, and inspiring future leaders in various fields.

Thirty schools, including Number 219 School in Kyiv and All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield, have already piloted this successful initiative, where the Prime Minister observed a lesson during his visit to Ukraine in January.

In the coming days, an additional 70 schools will be paired, while others will receive support through the British Council’s UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme until more places become available.

Students from several schools involved in the 100 Year Partnership twinning programme will visit Downing Street tomorrow (Friday 25 April). The children, representing YGG Pontybrenin, St Marie’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery, and English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, will write letters to exchange with their counterparts in Ukraine, many of whom are enduring schooling in bunkers during Russian missile and drone assaults.

Additionally, the children will celebrate the unveiling of a new commemorative stamp, created collaboratively by the UK and Ukrainian governments, which will be issued by the Ukrainian postal service Ukrposhta at the end of this month.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated:

The unbreakable connection between the UK and Ukraine is best illustrated by the friendships cultivated among our children. These young individuals are the builders of our future security, developing relationships that surpass borders and cultures, and this partnership promises brighter opportunities for children in both nations.

Our assistance extends beyond military support, which is vital for ensuring Ukraine’s defense; it encompasses our commitment to be there for Ukraine for generations as it strives for a just and sustained peace.

That’s why our support is crucial not only at this moment but for our collective future, as people of all ages advocate for the values we cherish, which are essential to our national security and our Plan for Change.

This exceptional initiative empowers schools to foster enduring international relationships and utilize reading as a means to broaden perspectives, enhance self-esteem, and improve mental health.

In Kyiv, Charlotte Surun, the Chargée d’affaires at the British Embassy, participated in the official unveiling ceremony of the new limited-edition stamp at the Ukrainian Post Office’s headquarters.

The event was attended by children from Kyiv School Number 219, which the Prime Minister visited in January. These students wrote messages on postcards to their twinned counterpart, Liverpool All Saints, as well as letters to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.

Shannon West, Head of UK Schools at the British Council, remarked:

For the past 90 years, creating opportunities for youth has been central to the British Council’s mission.

We are thrilled to collaborate with so many schools on this programme, which aims to equip young people with the international perspective and skills essential for thriving in our global society, while also strengthening the bonds between the UK and Ukraine.

The profound connections between the UK and Ukraine have been solidified through the groundbreaking new 100 Year Partnership, which expands and deepens relations across military and non-military domains, fostering closer community ties such as this initiative.

Supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s brutal invasion and aiding its reconstruction towards a prosperous, sovereign future is a cornerstone of this government’s security strategy and our Plan for Change.