Cooperation with Ukraine Hilfe

This autumn, Green Cross Switzerland (GCCH) has launched a partnership with the Swiss association, Ukraine Hilfe. This organisation began its work in Ukraine shortly after the outbreak of the war and has since built around 120 housing modules as emergency shelters for people who have lost their homes due to the conflict. Through these efforts, Ukraine Hilfe is making an essential contribution to helping Ukrainians stay in their country, or even in their home regions, giving them renewed hope. Whenever possible, the housing modules are built on the site of the destroyed or uninhabitable homes — a significant psychological factor for the residents. When the war situation allows, this approach enables people to remain in their familiar surroundings.

Residents are selected by local authorities, and the housing modules remain under the ownership of the municipality where they are located. This ensures that the modules serve their primary purpose and are occupied only by those who really need the accommodation. Additionally, these modules offer advantages over traditional houses: they are not classified as permanent residences, so no building permit is required, and they can be relocated if necessary — a vital factor in times of war. Thanks to effective insulation, the modules remain habitable during Ukraine’s often harsh winters, even in the event of power outages. Moreover, manufacturing these modules in Vinnytsia is cost-effective and supports the local economy in the war-stricken nation.

This autumn, GCCH is joining the project by sponsoring two larger, fully equipped housing modules. Through our Ukrainian partner organisation, we will remain in close contact with the families who will live in them. The anticipated location will be in Chernihiv, a region in the area impacted by the Chernobyl disaster. The area around Chernobyl has been a focal point of GCCH’s mission since our foundation.

The cooperation with Ukraine Hilfe also includes the planting of many thousands of trees — a commitment that GCCH hopes to continue in the coming years. Since a significant portion of the housing modules are made of wood and sustainability is central to our foundation’s values, we are also committed to promoting reforestation. Planting trees that will grow into forests over time brings many benefits. Forests play an essential role for the ecosystem, which has been severely damaged by the war. Moreover, in comparison with other countries, a (much too) small proportion of the national territory of Ukraine is forested. In addition, each tree planted contributes to protecting the global climate and, consequently, to the future of humanity.

For more information about Ukraine Hilfe’s commitment, please visit their website.