Our partner university in Lviv
In particular, we feel connected to our friends and colleagues from the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv with whom we have a long been collaborating in research and education. We sympathise with them and pray for them and the whole country. The situation among our colleagues in Lviv is becoming more worrying by the day. We have frequent contact with them about the situation there and we are looking for possibilities for further help and support for colleagues and students as well as the initiatives that have been started there.
What can we do?
In the last few days, many national, regional and local actions have been and are being started to provide assistance, in whatever form.
Support existing campaigns or donate yourself
Donate through PThU
PThU offers the opportunity for financial aid to the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU). You can transfer a contribution to bank account NL64 INGB 0003 1194 55 in the name of PThU, stating 'PThU supports UCU'. In consultation with our colleagues in Lviv, we are looking at how this money can best be spent.
Donate to Ukrainian Catholic University
The UCU itself has a donation page on their website, for financial aid for humanitarian causes. If you want to support them directly, you can do so via the website. You can then select 'donate for Ukraine' after which you will be taken to a page where you enter your personal data and can choose from 'Humanitarian aid to Ukraine' and 'Support UCU'. We recommend choosing the first option 'humanitarian aid via UCU'.
Donate via Giro 555
You can participate in the Dutch national action 'Together in action for Ukraine' for food, shelter, medical care and clean drinking water.
What are churches doing?
Churches across the Netherlands are active with campaigns for Ukraine. On a special theme page of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (in Dutch) you will find all information about the emergency aid campaign of Kerk in Actie, various collection materials and videos, prayers and liturgy suggestions for church services.
What are other universities doing?
Academic communities in many countries are now offering their solidarity and assistance. Various initiatives have been started, such as meetings with Ukrainian students to share experiences and to see how help can be offered from the Netherlands and worldwide. Personal contact with students and those directly involved is experienced as very valuable. Not only to pray together, but also to think together how this conflict can be ended.
Initiatives are also being taken to bring students to the Netherlands. Research is being conducted into the possibilities within the existing programs of Bridging gaps and Erasmus.
The Dutch government is investigating the possibilities of simplifying applications for short or long-term residence in the Netherlands. You can read more about this on the government website.
Want to read more about the situation or read reflections on the situation?
The media publishes a lot about the situation in Ukraine. Many messages are also received via our relations in Lviv. We collect the posts we think are worth sharing:
- 21 March: on the humanitarian aid set up out of our partner university UCU
- 18 March: brief reflection on the war by students of theology and philosophy: 'The kingdom of God is obtained not only by force' (Mt 5:12)
- 17 March: on the online meeting between Ukrainian students and their international peers (PThU students included)
- 28 February: a video by student Alisa from Charkiv who is now studying at our partner university UCU in Lviv
- 28 February: short video on the humanitarian aid by UCU students
We also publish on topics related to the situation in Ukraine.
- Theology in wartime: Christian hope in Ukraine by former student Stanislav Bondar
