There’s considerable interest in deepening cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Sweden.
The Swedish Institute is one of the leading partners in the cultural sphere. It continues to assist the faculties of Scandinavian languages and culture, supports student and academic exchanges, teaching of Swedish as a foreign language at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
Visby Programme Scholarships for master’s level studies and research in Swedish universities provides for many opportunities to Ukrainian graduates as well. They conduct their research work at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Uppsala University and Lund University, and other Swedish universities. There is a strong cooperation between Uppsala University and National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Övre gymnasium and college of the “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”. Since September 2006, the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Bogomolets National Medical University and Karolinska Institutet, continues to be actively implemented. Since December 2016 - Memorandum of Understanding between Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education and Karolinska Institutet. Since February 2017 - Memorandum of Understanding between Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education and Uppsala Universitet. Currently, 6 Ukrainian students participate in the mentioned medical training and postgraduate education programs.
In order to restore the territories in Eastern Ukraine controlled by the Government of Ukraine and the regions of Anti-Terrorist Operation in Donbas, Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) allocated funds for projects to restore social infrastructure, kindergartens, schools, hospitals and damaged homes. In addition, individual projects implemented bilaterally between Ukrainian and Swedish public authorities, in particular, between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and the National Board of Trade of Sweden and others. Possibilities of introducing cooperation between the Swedish Standards Institute and Ukrainian stakeholders are currently negotiated.
Following the Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden adopted the decision on the provision of financial support for projects by “Internews” agency, “Kvinna till Kvinna” and “Stronger Together” organizations.
The Kingdom of Sweden provides the humanitarian aid within relevant projects and through such institutions as UNICEF, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Government of Sweden allocated funds as target assistance to the Dnipropetrovsk hospital burn center. It provided the hospital with modern medical equipment for treatment of ATO soldiers having burn wounds, deep muscles and skin injuries because of shrapnel and bullet wounds. Sweden is a member of the NATO Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and participates in NATO Trust Fund in Support of Ukraine (Medical Rehabilitation Assistance for Military Personnel in Ukraine).
World Childhood Foundation established by H.M.Queen Silvia of Sweden implements a number of projects on reintegration and proper medical care for children, including ones in the ATO area in Ukraine. Since 2014, the Foundation carried out 7 projects in Ukraine, including, inter alia, assistance in the activities of the Support Center of the Children at Risk (Beregovo), “New Century” Charitable Foundation (Mykolaiv), Care Center for Assisting Children of conflict under the “Way Home” Charitable Foundation (Odesa). The Foundation has implemented projects to help children who live in the ATO area and were born by HIV/AIDS positive mothers, those who are homeless and orphans, and children suffering from domestic violence. Currently, the Foundation implements 5 projects in Ukraine: the Support Center of the Children at Risk in Beregovo (“Advance” organization), Comprehensive School in Yanoshi village of Zakarpattia region (“Advance” organization), Early Development Center in Odesa (“Way Home” Charitable Foundation). Social and psychological assistance to children is provided within such projects, including IDPs children from Donbas, and those who have suffered violence and stress.