Dresden (dpa/sn) - A piece of home abroad: The Ukrainian meeting center was opened in Dresden on Monday. It is located in the QF district on the Neumarkt and is therefore one of the best addresses in the city. The Ukrainian community of Dresden wants to use the 200 square meter meeting place for cultural offers, encounters and exchange with the Dresden population, it was said. Also planned are a children's center with German classes, a media school for young people, readings and book presentations, the women's club, a meeting place for senior citizens, a German-Ukrainian regulars' table and exhibitions by Ukrainian artists.
"The war in Ukraine is ongoing - thousands of Ukrainians have found refuge in Dresden since the beginning of the year," said Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) at the opening of the meeting place. From the very first minute, a very good cooperation with the Ukrainian community and the Platform Dresden association developed. The association directs the meeting center. Association leader Tetiana Ivanchenko recalled that thousands of people had lost their homes because of the war and had to flee their homes.
"With the 'Ukrainian House' we don't want to create a closed society by Ukrainians for Ukrainians, but a common protective roof, a home for the thousands who had to flee Russia's war of aggression. We want to create a place for meeting and exchange, where Dresdeners and Ukrainians and at the same time learn about and from each other - about the respective culture, language and traditions," said Ivanchenko.
The project is funded by the German Foundation for Commitment and Volunteering. The city of Dresden will initially cover the operating costs of 1300 euros per month for one year. The association pays for electricity itself. According to the city administration, more than 8,800 people from the Ukraine seeking protection have been registered in Dresden since the beginning of the war in February. There are currently 7,254 of them still living in the city.
