On Children's Day, President's wife Olena Zelenska and UNICEF Representative in Ukraine Lotta Sylwander signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The document aims to consolidate the efforts of the First Lady and the UNICEF team for effective results in protecting the rights and interests of children in various fields.
The memorandum provides for cooperation in such areas as creating a barrier-free environment for children to be fully included in social life, improving school nutrition and promoting a healthy lifestyle, as well as ensuring equal rights for boys and girls to realize their potential.
"This document demonstrates our shared vision of how to act. Protection, support, equal opportunities are its main principles. It is symbolic for me that we signed it on Children's Day. After all, this day is a reminder to adults of the responsibility they bear for children's lives and health, full development and formation," Olena Zelenska said.
"This memorandum is an opportunity to join forces and work together to create better conditions for children in Ukraine. Children and families with children need special support in these difficult times as the world struggles with new challenges. We are glad that we have so many common areas for cooperation. I am convinced that we have numerous projects ahead in support of the rights of the child, a healthy lifestyle and the barrier-free society,” Lotta Sylwander emphasized.
Currently, the President's wife and specialists from the Ukrainian office of UNICEF are actively cooperating for the high-quality implementation of the healthy nutrition program in Ukrainian schools. Specialists of UNESCO joined the development of the National Strategy for Building a Safe and Healthy Educational Environment, which was approved by the Decree of the President of Ukraine on May 25, 2020. They also participate in the implementation of this strategy. Another joint initiative of the First Lady and the UNICEF team is TV lessons for primary school pupils in the framework of the national distance learning project for the period of quarantine "Nationwide Online School".
According to Olena Zelenska, UNICEF's international expertise and access to the best world experience in implementing such projects is very valuable for Ukraine.