Second HROMADA conference

Strengthening Ukraine: Sharing knowledge for a sustainable future

Picture: Oleksandra Bolotina, Kharkiv

Conference

Riga, 24 October 2024

Registration

Registration for the public – in person and online

HROMADA members and invited speakers, please use a separate registration form (sent to you by e-mail).

Register Here

Programme

09:30-10:00 Registration

10:00-10:30 Welcome and introductory speeches

Guntars Kitenbergs, Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Latvia

Stefan Eriksson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia

Natalia Bereza, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to Latvia

Anne Pintsch, HROMADA leader, University of Agder

10:30-11:00 Keynote speech

Andžejs Viļumsons, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

11:00-12:00 Panel I: Ukraine’s European integration: main challenges and mutual learning

Ukraine’s European integration takes place in a turbulent context. This panel aims to address main challenges it faces in this process. The European Union has tightly linked Ukraine’s rebuilding and accession, among others through the adoption of the Ukraine Facility. The ongoing war, however, makes the prospects of accession uncertain, with unclear consequences for the country’s recovery. Even in the case of a rapid opening of accession negotiations, state capacity to absorb rebuilding and reform funding and to govern the corresponding processes may remain major obstacles on Ukraine’s path to the EU. Another urgent question is how to combine Ukrainian ownership of the rebuilding process with the top-down nature of EU conditionality. Finally, the 27 EU member states need to unanimously agree on further enlargement and take the necessary preparatory measures. The panel will discuss the state of Ukraine’s EU accession and the related challenges from various perspectives. In doing so, it will explore which experiences of the Nordic and Baltic EU member states can be utilized for Ukraine, but also shed light on what Nordic and Baltic EU member states can learn from Ukraine in terms of deepening European integration.
 

Confirmed speakers

Ann-Sofie Alm, Member of the Swedish Parliament and the Nordic Council

European Commission, N.N.

Natalia Bereza, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to Latvia

Olga Lymar, Executive Director, Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition, Kyiv

12:00-13:00 Lunch

13:00-14:00 Panel II: Ukrainian refugees in the Nordic and Baltic countries: strengthening Ukraine, changing our societies

While much attention has been focused on the help Ukraine and Ukrainians need, what is often overlooked is how Ukrainian refugees themselves take an active role in supporting Ukraine and each other. Moreover, receiving Ukrainian refugees has left an important mark on the societies in the Nordic-Baltic region: it has awakened solidarity and civic activism to a nearly unprecedented level, and contributed to important changes at the political and societal level. In this panel we would like to focus on the countless inspiring examples that show how Ukrainians not only receive, but also actively contribute to our collective future and give back to their host societies. We will also discuss how the integration of Ukrainian refugee scholars into Nordic-Baltic research communities strengthens our countries’ Ukraine scholarship and the knowledge about Ukraine in our societies.

Confirmed speakers

Karolis Zibas, Integration Officer, UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries

Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen, Chairwoman Association of Ukrainians in Denmark, Chairwoman “Help Ukrainian Children”, CEO NordicUkraineinvest

Eugenija Kovaliova, Lithuanian CEO of Ukreate Hub

Inese Šūpule, University of Latvia

14:00-15:00 Panel III: Mental health: how Nordic and Baltic countries can support Ukraine’s people

In the midst of war actions and turmoil, the mental well-being of individuals is often overlooked but crucially important. This panel is dedicated to shedding light on the often-unseen aspect of warfare—the impact it has on the mental health of individuals, families, and communities in Ukraine as well as to how the Nordic-Baltic countries can contribute to the mental health building in Ukraine. The panel aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of mental health during the war in Ukraine and postwar time. It will delve into the psychological toll of living in a conflict zone, the trauma experienced by civilians, the challenges faced by mental health professionals, and the resilience and coping mechanisms that emerge amidst adversity. Drawing from the experiences of survivors, mental health experts, and humanitarian workers on the ground, the panel seeks to raise awareness, foster understanding, and encourage support for those affected by the war. By amplifying voices, sharing stories, and advocating for mental health resources and support systems, “Resilience Amidst Adversity” strives to contribute to a greater understanding of the importance of mental health care in times of crisis.

Confirmed speakers

Alyona Mazhnaya, National University of ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’

Solvig Ekblad, Professor at the Karolinska Institututet and Academic Primary Health Care Center, Region Stockholm

Nataliia Bondarenko, Practical psychologist and senior lecturer at the National University of ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’

15:00-15:30 Coffee Break

15:30-16:30 Panel IV: Wartime education for Ukrainian children: challenges and best practices at home and abroad

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has resulted in various disruptions in education for Ukrainian schoolchildren. They range from physical destruction of infrastructure in case of children based in Ukraine to the challenge of integrating into school systems of host countries. Government and non-government stakeholders in Ukraine and EU countries have applied multifaceted efforts to address these issues, by financing the rebuilding of damaged facilities and building underground schools in Ukraine and offering language courses and assistance for displaced children abroad. Which of these practices have worked out, and which not? How can the needs of Ukrainian schoolchildren in Ukraine and abroad be addressed in a more coherent and comprehensive way? How can the Ministry of Education of Ukraine and foreign partners ensure that displaced children preserve their language skills and connection to Ukraine? What are the best ways to address war trauma in schools? And finally: how can the Nordic and Baltic states contribute to better access to education and mental health for Ukrainian children?

Confirmed speakers

Anna Putsova, Co-founder of SavED Ukraine

Nataliya Yeremeyeva, Senior Adviser, European Wergeland Centre, Oslo

Søren Sindberg Jensen, Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark

Oksana Žabko, Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, Latvia

Maryna Rabinovych, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

16:30-16:45 Break

16:45-18:00 Premiere: Film “Where is your home, Winston?”

Introduction by Maria Pikkarainen, Service manager, Language and Culture Groups’ Education, Department of Education and Youth, Joensuu municipality, and Olga Filippova, University of Eastern Finland and HROMADA working group leader
More information about the film is available here.

18:00 End of the conference

19:00 Conference Dinner

Where?

University of Latvia, Riga
Lauvas iela 4

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