Finland has announced a €20 million commitment to support educational reform in Ukraine, with an additional €500,000 directed toward improving the nation’s school meal programs. The funding, revealed by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio at the European Regional School Nutrition Forum in Kyiv, is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s general upper secondary education and providing necessary social support for students affected by the war.
The partnership aims to align Ukraine’s educational standards with those of the European Union, a key priority for the country’s long-term development. The program also includes initiatives to address the psychosocial needs of students, many of whom face trauma and disruption due to ongoing war.
The €20 million allocation, scheduled for disbursement from 2025 to 2028, will focus on enhancing Ukraine’s educational infrastructure and student welfare systems.
Alongside the education reform funding, Finland has allocated €500,000 to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) school meal initiative in Ukraine. In early 2021, Ukraine initiated a comprehensive school nutrition reform aimed at promoting healthier eating habits among students. This initiative, developed in collaboration with chef Yevhen Klopotenko, introduced a new menu emphasizing reduced sugar, salt, and fats, while increasing the inclusion of fresh vegetables, meats, and fish. Traditional items like sausages and preserved foods were replaced with more nutritious options, aligning with World Health Organization recommendations. The reform also sought to educate the younger generation on healthy eating practices.
In addition to the education-focused aid, Finland’s humanitarian support for Ukraine has expanded this year. The Finnish government recently committed €8 million to aid operations by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as Ukraine braces for a harsh winter with significant energy infrastructure damage. This latest financial support follows Finland’s September announcement of its 25th military aid package to Ukraine, estimated at €118 million, as well as other recent moves to sanction Russian interests, including steps to transfer ownership of Helsinki’s largest sports and entertainment arena from Russian-held control.
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