The cooperation between the city of Nivala and the Ukrainian municipality of Shyroke took a concrete step forward on Wednesday, May 28, when a Ukrainian-language bookshelf was inaugurated at the city library.
Shyroke, located in the Zaporizhzhia region near the war front, has sent a selection of Ukrainian-language books to the Nivala city library. The collection includes modern Ukrainian literature for children, youth, and adults, featuring, among others, Moomin books translated into Ukrainian.
Present at the unveiling of the collection, along with Nivala’s Mayor Päivi Karikumpu, were Shyroke’s Mayor Denys Korotenko and Development Director Olha Mishevska, who joined via video connection. Both had been part of the delegation that visited Nivala last January.
Representing the Ukrainian community in Nivala were Svitlana Pecherytsia, Katerina Brytiuk, and Anastasiia and Lukas Denysevyck.
“We encountered genuine interest in Ukraine and support for our citizens who have been forced to relocate to Finland due to Russia’s aggression. Particularly touching was the book display dedicated to Ukrainian authors—it was an unexpected and deeply emotional gesture of solidarity,” Korotenko said.
According to Korotenko, the hope is that the new collection will help Ukrainians living in Finland maintain a connection to their language and culture. Currently, more than 60 Ukrainians reside in Nivala.
“This exchange has become a symbol of friendship and cultural dialogue between our communities. We are confident this is just the beginning of a deeper partnership,” Korotenko added.
The Nivala city council approved the twin municipality agreement at the end of March. The initiative follows the January visit by Shyroke representatives, during which numerous opportunities for cooperation in education, culture, and business were identified.
“The arrival of Ukrainian-language books at the Nivala City Library is a warm and meaningful gesture. It represents friendship, cultural dialogue, and the desire to support our Ukrainian residents in their native language,” Karikumpu stated.
The first contacts between the municipalities were facilitated by NIHAK. One of the goals of the ongoing Dr. Livingstone project is to promote cooperation related to the reconstruction of Ukraine among companies and local actors.
Päivi Karikumpu and Lukas Denysevyck
“NIHAK’s role is to bring people and ideas together. When the war began, it became clear that Ukraine would remain a central focus of interest in Europe for a long time to come. Culture plays an essential role in cooperation between municipalities and their residents, and this book collection is a concrete example of that,” said Ari Alakangas, Head of International Services.
Text and images: Hanna Perkkiö.
The activities were supported by the Dr. Livingstone – New Business in a Turbulent World project, managed by NIHAK. The project’s goal is to help local companies internationalize in emerging markets and identify new business opportunities, particularly in new growth markets. One of the project’s objectives is to strengthen Finnish-Ukrainian cooperation.
