Rebuilding Ukraine Association Inc. a 501c3 Non Profit

Rebuilding Ukraine Association Inc.  (RUAI)- is privileged to have BRDGES Academy as one of its participants in its Rebuilding Ukraine’s National Independence Through Education REUNITE program. BRDGES Academy’s Ambassador Program begins its onsite training in Ukraine this month at Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, Kyiv region, Ukraine. The Program will train Ukrainians how to bridge cultural differences, enhance cross-cultural communications, interface to prevent disputes, and promote resolution of disputes through mediation and other conflict transformational techniques. Among offered courses are “Trauma-Informed Learning and Communications”, “ “Emotional Intelligence”, “Conflict Prevention, Techniques and Transformation”, “Introduction to Mediation”, and others. The Ambassador Program’s purpose is to contribute to peaceful consolidation of Ukrainian civil society and its post-war recovery and acculturation. BRDGES Academy brings the art of dispute mediation to students of Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, Kyiv region, Ukraine. Graduates of this Program will learn skills to address all types of community and civil society disputes. The ultimate goal is to consolidate Ukrainian society around democratic principles and ideals to make it more resilient to external threats and to promote its after-war recovery. RUAI’s KYIV based team lead by Alexander Rotov and Alisa Rotova is working with BRDGES team led by Lynn Cole to have representatives from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine attend the in-person mediation simulations conducted at the University.  RUAI’s existing memorandum with the UA MVA is to aid in developing educational, mental health, and professional training programs for veterans. The Ambassador program being delivered by Lynn Cole, Founder and President of BRDGES, will be modified and further developed for implementation and realization with the UA MVA. REUNITE’s team will deliver a Trauma based conflict Resolution / MEDiation training (TRESMED) program for the Ministry of Veteran Affairs of Ukraine. 

It is important to see the light in the darkness. We live today despite the difficulties and unspeakable pain. We dream, hope, fight, make plans and believe in Victory. The final part of the video of our reconstruction project in Kharkiv... We are grateful to the courageous people of Kharkiv who shared their stories, difficult and sincere at the same time. Their eyes radiate faith, smiles, tears of happiness and hope and envelop them with boundless gratitude. After the victory, Kharkiv residents dream of singing, rejoicing, dancing, and continuing to rebuild their homes and city. They inspire a thirst for life. People love their native Kharkiv with all their hearts. This empowers us to work and provide support even more. Part 4. Dreams. Strength in unity!

On June 11-12, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman traveled to Berlin to participate in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), where she met with leaders from Ukraine and the region, including Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko, senior officials from multilateral development banks, civil society, and executives from American, multinational and Ukrainian companies. DA Coleman emphasized the need to mobilize continued international support for recovery, reform, and modernization of Ukraine. Of particular focus at this year’s URC was the inclusion of vulnerable populations in Ukraine’s recovery planning. At the conference, Deputy Administrator Coleman participated in a panel discussion addressing Ukraine’s labor market challenges and the need to be deliberate in addressing the needs of populations such as youth, women, veterans, internally displaced persons, and returnees, including through partnerships with small and medium enterprises, a focus on key fields such as the tech sector, and working closely with the private sector to understand employers’ needs and ensure upskilling programs are both timely and fit for purpose. Deputy Administrator Coleman also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development that outlines the two institutions’ intent to deepen their collaboration in support of Ukraine’s progress in the fields of infrastructure, economic growth, and energy.

Currently, Kharkiv - the second largest city in Ukraine, is under constant, brutal enemy attacks. With daily large-scale destruction, people's suffering only increases. Despite the difficulty of life in Kharkiv, over the past year, 50% of residents have returned to the houses we restored. "It's better at home", "your people are near" - are the main values of Kharkiv residents. Part 3. It's easier at home. #RebuildUkraine #KharkivRebuild #Ukraine #Reconstruction #HumanitarianAid #SupportUkraine #UkraineRecovery #CommunityRebuilding #PostConflictReconstruction #SolidarityWithUkraine

"A home is a home..." Despite the large scale of destruction, people stay at home. Residents of destroyed buildings are forced to live in difficult conditions: no windows, damaged roofs, unusable gas, water, and electricity supply systems. And all this is a daily reminder of the brutal attacks of the enemy. We help people restore their homes, restore basic living conditions and feel at least a little more comfortable in the current realities. We continue to share videos from Kharkiv. Part 2. Scales of destruction. #ukraine #rebuildingukraine #hope #supportukraine

Even in the most difficult moments, people find strength in unity with others, with those who have experienced similar losses. They learn to support each other, share resources and hope for a better future. Losing a home can force people to rethink their priorities, change their values, and find new ways to rebuild their lives. Despite the trials that occur on the way, people find strength in faith, in the memory of the past, which they rebuild again, and in hopes for a better future, which they dream of building for themselves and their loved ones. Rebuilding Ukraine Association Incorporated has partnered with The Fedir Shpyg Charity Foundation to collaborate on the "Restore Home - Restore Hope" program and pool resources and efforts to raise funds for the restoration of residential buildings throughout Ukraine. Thanks to this partnership, we have already been able to restore 10 houses in Kharkiv. The Fedir Shpyg Foundation has created a powerful video, detailing life in Kharkiv, a hero city that faces almost daily air attacks and devastating destruction. We want to share the stories, experiences, and dreams of strong people who currently live in Kharkiv. Part 1. Remembering the beginning of the War.  Learn more about the project at https://lnkd.in/dBYXXveN

On May 6th a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Rebuilding Ukraine Association Incorporated and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine with Oleksandr Porkhun, Acting Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. RUAI was represented in Kyiv by our Director of Development Oleksander Rotov.   The MOU is a big step forward in our working relationship with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. It provides a foundation for future projects and programs that support veterans in Ukraine, including educational, professional development, and health and wellness programs aimed at the preparation of veterans of war for reintegration into society and the civilian workforce. Attendees of the signing included From the UA Ministry of Veterans: Oleksandr Porkhun, Acting Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Maxim Kushnir, Deputy Minister of Veteran Affairs of Ukraine Svitlana Smarzhevska, Acting Deputy Head of the Department of Cooperation with International Partners From RUAI: Thomas Lang - Rebuilding Ukraine Association Inc. (RUAI) Founder / Executive Director Rotov Alexander A. Rotov - Rebuilding Ukraine Association Inc. (RUAI) Director of Business Development Andriy Futey – Ukraine Congress Committee of America (UCCA) President Marta Lopatynsky, MD – Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) Raymond Issa, Ph.D., J.D., P.E. – University Of Florida – Distinguished Professor Lynn Cole Cole  PA – President -  BRDGES Academy Alisa Rotova  – RUAI - Executive Business Manager - Sergiy Borysov PH. D.  – RUAI - Project Manager – TRESMED Maria Hrycelak,  MD. – UMANA