Ukrainian bookshelves under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska have been opened in two more countries: The Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Namibia. In total, the Ukrainian Bookshelf project has already covered 34 countries.
A shelf with Ukrainian literature was opened in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, in The Village cultural center at the initiative of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of South Africa and with the support of the diplomatic mission's permanent partner – the community of Ukrainians abroad in Namibia.
On April 3, at the initiative of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of North Macedonia, a Ukrainian bookshelf will be opened in the National and University Library "St. Clement of Ohrid" in the capital city of Skopje.
The Ukrainian Bookshelf project under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine was planned even before the Russian aggression. It involves the distribution of Ukrainian literature in original and translated versions to the world's leading libraries.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the project was continued to preserve Ukrainian culture under threat and to introduce it to the world.
The shelves have already been opened in 34 countries, including Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Türkiye, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Greece, and France.
The project is being implemented jointly by the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, and the Ukrainian Book Institute in cooperation with the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine and the Kyiv School of Economics Foundation (KSE Foundation).
"The Ukrainian bookshelves will help both young and adult readers to get to know Ukraine and Ukrainians better, to get to know our history and philosophy. We want our friends in different countries to become even closer through awareness and understanding," Olena Zelenska said.
