Building stronger ties between Scotland and Ukraine
The John Smith Trust has become a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Ukraine.
Our role on the CPG is to strengthen collaborative connections between Scotland and Ukraine. Programme Manager Anna Makhlay, who is also a John Smith Fellow from Ukraine, is our representative on the group.
Anna said: “Both Ukraine and Scotland are interested in sharing best practices and knowledge and developing business educational and cultural ties. This will benefit both countries, which are united behind the same democratic values.
“At the John Smith Trust, we’re committed to strengthening the partnership between Scotland and Ukraine. Being part of the CPG on Ukraine will help us foster collaborative connections between counterparts in both countries. By developing and sharing expertise, we can help ensure Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery is sustainable, fair and inclusive.”
Scotland stands with Ukraine
On 26 September, the Scottish Parliament held a debate on Ukraine. Shirley-Anne Sommerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, tabled a motion calling for “unwavering solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s devasting illegal war.”
In June, Shirley-Anne Sommerville had met with John Smith Fellows during a pilot Ukrainian Women’s Leadership Programme, which was run in partnership with the University of Edinburgh Business School and with the support of the Scottish Government. During last week’s debate, she mentioned our work while reflecting on Scotland’s efforts to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery.
She said: “The John Smith Trust has undertaken exceptionally important work through its Ukrainian Women’s Leadership Programme, which is supporting Ukrainian women as they do the best that they can to provide for themselves and their families when they are here. And, once again, to think to the future, when they will return to Ukraine.”
Watch the remarks from Shirley-Anne Sommerville MSP from the Debate on 26th September, 2024 in the above video or watch the full video here: Scottish Government Debate: Scotland Stands with Ukraine | Scottish Parliament TV.
