Deputy Secretary General Yurii Mushka took part in the certificate awarding ceremony of the UA NEXT: Strengthening Dialogue and Local Engagement of Ukrainian Communities in CEI Countries project, held in Prague on 29 May 2026 at the Enbassy of Ucraine, Czech Republic.
Diplomas were awarded to participants by DSG Mushka alongside Vasyl Zvarych, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Czech Republic; and Mariya Boguslav, Pro Future Foundation, Coordinator of Ukrainian EduHubs network.
Vawho completed the training activities carried out in the Czech Republic. Activities in Bulgaria and Poland are ongoing and will be concluded in the coming months.
The event marked the conclusion of a structured training programme that brought together 60 participants from Ukrainian communities in Poland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Over the course of nine months, participants – referred to as "Mediators of Unity" – developed skills in cultural diplomacy, community representation, leadership, and intercultural dialogue, combining online training sessions with practical assignments carried out at the local level.
In his address to the participants, Deputy Secretary General Mushka underscored the significance of community-driven initiatives in today's Europe: "We invest in people, in the development of communities, in the power of knowledge and partnership. At a time when the world is experiencing difficult challenges, it is such initiatives that become not just educational projects, but real platforms for solidarity, mutual understanding and a common future."
Muschka also highlighted the particular relevance of the project for Ukrainians living abroad: "For many of our citizens who were forced to leave their homes due to the war, participation in such programmes has become a source of support, adaptation, and new perspectives."
The UA NEXT project is organised by the Pro Futuro Foundation (Poland), in partnership with organisations in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Ukraine. This is not the first time the CEI has partnered with Pro Futuro Foundation - read about our previous collaboration here. The programme will conclude with a final in-person forum in Lviv, bringing together participants, partners and institutional stakeholders to share results and discuss future cooperation.
This activity is part of the CEI's sustained engagement in support of Ukraine since the outbreak of the war in February 2022 - an effort that has spanned humanitarian, educational, and community initiatives across the CEI region, reflecting the organisation's unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people and those displaced by the conflict.
For more info: fabro@cei.int
