Russia's declared war in Ukraine has been going on for twenty days. The bestial actions of the aggressors have targeted not only the military, but also civilians. In the face of this tragedy, we are publishing a statement from the Kharkiv School of Architecture - believing that soon young Ukrainian students will be able to return safely to design, contributing to the reconstruction of their country after the war.
Kharkiv is located in the northeastern part of Ukraine, and is the second most populous city in the country. Since the beginning of the war, it has become a target of the Russian aggressor, who, seeing the resistance and strength of Ukrainian society, chooses to shell civilian buildings every day - taking aim at apartment blocks, hospitals and schools.
This statement was issued by the Kharkiv School of Architecture.
POLISH VERSION
Dear Friends,
The first weeks of the war, declared on Ukraine by Russia [original spelling], were extremely difficult for the Kharkiv School of Architecture. Everyone was trying to get out of the hell that Russian troops turned our Kharkiv into. Our teachers and students are now relatively safe. Almost all of them have fled Kharkiv; some are still on their way to safety.
After these two weeks, we are trying to calm down and think about our future. The Kharkiv School of Architecture has decided to continue its work and remain in Ukraine. In this difficult time, we have to think about the longer term, and that is to educate the younger generation of architects who will stay in Ukraine and rebuild our cities.
We are also trying to become a platform for communication and dialogue between our friends and architecture experts from different countries, except Russia, to rebuild Kharkiv and other cities destroyed after the war.
The support that the European academic community is currently giving us, and the shelter for Ukrainian students, is invaluable, but we must do everything possible to accumulate strength and action in Ukraine.
The school has now changed its program, resuming online learning. This is not easy, as many of our students and faculty do not have regular access to it now. We are all involved in volunteering. Several of our students and staff have joined the military. We stay in touch with them and support each other in combat training. We will all return to our destroyed cities with new knowledge and experience to rebuild them.
We believe in the victory of Ukraine! That's why, despite the terrible war, we are working closely with residents and the architectural community to (re)build our country.
English version
Dear Friends,
The first weeks of the war, announced to Ukraine by russia, was extremely difficult for the Kharkiv School of Architecture. Everyone tried to get out of the hell into which russian troops turned our Kharkiv. Our teachers and students are now relatively safe. Almost all fled Kharkiv; some are still on their way to a safe place.
After these two weeks, we try to calm down as much as possible and think about our future. Kharkiv School of Architecture has decided that we will continue working and staying in Ukraine. We need to think about the long term in this challenging time, and this is the education of our young generation of architects who remain in Ukraine and will rebuild our cities.
We also strive to become a platform for communication and dialogue between our friends and expert architects from different countries except russia to rebuild Kharkiv and other destroyed cities after the war.
The support that European education community give us now and shelter to Ukrainian students is invaluable, but we must do everything possible to accumulate all forces and efforts in Ukraine.
The school is now reforming its program, and we are resuming online learning. It is not easy, as many of our students and faculty now do not have an uninterrupted Internet connection. We are all involved in volunteering. Several of our students and staff have joined the defense and the army. Nevertheless, we need to keep in touch, support each other and continue training in combat because we all will return to our destroyed cities with new knowledge and experience to rebuild them.
We do believe in Ukrainian victory! Therefore, despite the horrific war, we have been working closely together with locals and the architectural community to (re) build our country.
The statement can be found on the Facebook page of the Kharkiv School of Economy.
how to help the ukrainian community?
We would like to remind you about the verified collections to help the Ukrainian community (See here), and the action started by NIAiU and the Institute of Design in Kielce - helping refugees in their search for jobs in the creative industry (See here).
