Palacký University is organising and coordinating aid and support for students and employees from Ukraine who are finding themselves in existential situations due to the war. At the same time, UP is working with the Regional Assistance Centre to Aid Ukraine. Here, we bring you up-to-date information on the ongoing situation.
– The UP Volunteering Centre, which has opened a special contact point for UP students and employees in the Student Club in the Armoury/Zbrojnice, has enlarged its database of volunteers offering help. At present, it lists 527 people, 70 of whom are interpreters. Psychological and social help, etc., are also available. The majority of the volunteers are UP students.
– We’ve updated our special webpage upol.cz/ukrajina, where there is now an online questionnaire which you can fill in to offer help or request help from our volunteers for your organisation. The page has information in Czech, Ukrainian, and English.
– The Regional Assistance Centre to Aid Ukraine (Krajské asistenční centrum pomoci Ukrajině: KACPU) has been moved to the Haná Barracks building, across from nám. Republiky, where volunteers from UP are actively participating – especially with babysitting, interpreting, and offering guide services. Volunteers are working three shifts, in groups of thirty.
– First results are being seen from the work of the International Office, which is communicating with universities in Ukraine and informing them of the possibilities of housing students and academics in Olomouc. We have already been informed that a group of students will soon be arriving from Lvov, and more are on their way.
– Important practical advice: In recent days the university has been informing students and employees who have accounts at Sberbank to change banks, in order to receive their wages or subsidies without complications.
– UP is gradually withdrawing from all its contracts with Russian universities.
– Rector Martin Procházka has written a personal letter to management at our Ukrainian partner universities to assure them of our support for their country.
– The UP Faculty of Arts is offering Czech courses, not only for students and academics, but for anyone interested from Ukraine. The Olomouc Employment Office has also requested this.
– Various departments have been organising lectures and debates on themes such as Ukrainian history, international relations, legal and human rights explanations of the current situation, etc. An overview of university events connected with Ukraine can be found at upol.cz/ukrajina.
– There have been several charity events in the form of concerts and protest rallies which have taken place recently at UP, where contributions to help Ukraine have always been solicited. Students and employees from all UP faculties have been taking part.
– We are preparing a charity financial drive at UP, the proceeds of which will be used for the needs of students, academics, and employees affected by the war.
– At UPoint you can donate to the People in Need charity, and you will be given a blue and gold boutonnière, handmade by UP students Julia Mostova of Ukraine and Aglaé Alex of France.
– UP has decided to withdraw from renting the UP Field House for a planned concert by singer Jaromír Nohavica, who has refused calls to return his Pushkin Medal.
– Some might say “those are just words”, but they are important words. We are talking about information – essential information. So we would like to thank all our employees who have been forthcoming to the media, through which they have been able to share their expertise with the greater public.
You can find all essential information, including contact information, on the special page: www.upol.cz/ukrajina.