Ukrainian Leaders Sought Inspiration in Sustainable Building

In April 2025, the Partnership Foundation welcomed another group of Ukrainian mayors, officials, entrepreneurs, NGO representatives, and academics to the Czech Republic. So far, 135 participants have completed the program, and we continue to support them in preparing joint projects with Czech partners after their return to Ukraine.

The internship began with lectures on climate change adaptation by experts from the Adapterra program and the Passive House Center. Participants then toured the Mokrá Cement Plant, where we learned from Heidelberg Materials Czech Republic about sustainable industry, circular economy, and minimizing mining's impact on the landscape. The busy day ended in Nový Lískovec, a Brno district known for its eco-friendly renovation of panel houses and long-term community engagement.

In the following days, the Ukrainian partners visited Haná and Valašsko. At the Faculty Hospital Olomouc, designed by Rujbr Architects, they found inspiration in the Czech Republic's first hospital building meeting passive house standards. At the Sluňákov Ecocenter, Michal Bartoš presented a low-energy building integrated into the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area.

Vojtěch Dorňák from one of the participating companies—Kloboucké lesní, last year's Adapterra Awards winner—discussed sustainable forestry and local wood processing with our guests. At the Hostětín Ecocenter, the group of fifteen interns gained further inspiration through examples of best practices in environmentally friendly municipal solutions. The intensive week concluded with Luboš Věrný and Pavel Šrom sharing their experience in integrating sustainability into public investments at the South Moravian Region level.

The Ukrainian presence in April was also intertwined with many other activities during the Olomouc Ecology Days program. The festival’s lineup was enriched by writer, journalist, and philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko. His participation was a great contribution as he offers a prominent voice speaking at Europe’s most prestigious institutions and media about what is happening in Ukraine, putting events into broad context, including environmental aspects.

Power without responsibility breeds oppression; helplessness without hope leads to resignation. The Partnership Foundation connects those who refuse to be passive witnesses. Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom but also for Europe's values—and we must not be blind or deaf. We are especially pleased that the leading Ukrainian philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko and artist Kostiantyn Zorkin spoke at the Ecology Days. Without the Ukrainian voice, Europe is incomplete—because Europe is a shared story, now sadly also written on battlefields.