Bocholt donates lorry with relief supplies to Ukrainian town
Official delegation from Verkhniodniprovsk visits Bocholt for the first time // Exchange of expertise to strengthen relations as part of the solidarity partnership
A delegation from the Ukrainian city of Verkhniodniprovsk took delivery of a lorry on Friday morning. The decommissioned vehicle, a gift from the city of Bocholt, is loaded with relief supplies for the people in the city affected by the Russian war of aggression.
Bocholt has had a solidarity partnership with Verkhniodniprovsk since October 2023. The handover of the lorry in the presence of Bocholt's mayor Thomas Kerkhoff was the conclusion of a delegation visit led by the Ukrainian mayor Gennadiy Lebid.
Over the past week, an intensive exchange of expertise took place between representatives of the city of Bocholt and Verkhniodniprovsk. Mayor Lebid was accompanied by Svitlana Serheyeva, Director of the Humanitarian Department of the Verkhniodniprovsk City Council, Ivanna Savchenko, Head of the Economic Department of the city administration, and English teacher Yana Danyliuk. The programme included visits and exchanges with institutions and local civic groups in order to establish networks and strengthen relations between the two cities.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian delegation took part in the city council meeting at which the agreement on the solidarity partnership between Bocholt and Verkhniodniprovsk was officially signed by the mayors. Mayor Lebid presented his city in a short video beforehand. Verkhniodniprovsk is located in the Ukrainian oblast of Dnipropetrovsk, a region with around 37,000 inhabitants.
Mayor Lebid thanks Bocholt
Lebid gave depressing impressions of everyday life in a state of war: "Children learn in basements. Rockets and drones fly over our city every day, sirens wail." 68 citizens of his city have lost their lives in the war so far. The city council commemorated them in a moment of silence. Lebid said: "It is a great honour for us to be here. We are very grateful for the invitation and the generous support from Bocholt." He hopes that the war will end soon and that a return visit from Bocholt will be possible.
Future projects are already being planned, including further aid shipments. A group of young people from the Ukrainian twin city is expected to visit in August, and a photo exhibition is also planned.
Promotion of the exchange of experts by SKEW
The first expert exchange is being financially supported by the Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW).