The first meeting of the UVRC Ambassadors Council took place in Brussels, bringing together a community of Belgian citizens who have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The council includes representatives of local authorities, business leaders, civil society activists, and members of religious communities who, over the past several years, have been helping Ukrainians, organizing humanitarian missions, fundraising campaigns, and implementing local support initiatives.
Many of the ambassadors began their engagement at the start of the full-scale war. Among them is Father Karel Stautemas, a Belgian priest from the town of Grimbergen.
«I looked at my agenda, cancelled all my meetings, and went straight to the Polish border,» he recalls.
This happened shortly after, in the spring of 2022, when a Ukrainian woman reached out to him with a request to help deliver humanitarian aid to Chernihiv, where her parents were still living. Since then, what began as a small initiative has grown into years of ongoing support for Ukraine: together with volunteers, Father Karel has helped evacuate more than 60 Ukrainians to Belgium, organized fundraising campaigns, and sent ambulances, fire trucks, and dozens of humanitarian aid shipments to Ukraine.
«We decided to bring together people who share similar views with us. They want to help others. All of them have experience working in Ukraine or here in Belgium with Ukrainians. Since 2022, they have been on the front line of providing support. We invited these people because they understand our pain, our reality, and the journey we have been through here,»said UVRC President Mykhailo Dzivitskyi.
The Ambassadors Council will help us strengthen the integration of the Ukrainian community into Belgian society, open new opportunities for cooperation, and create an even stronger voice for Ukraine in Belgium.
During the first meeting, we presented the organization’s activities, spoke about our mission and upcoming initiatives, and discussed potential projects and partnerships. For many participants, it was a surprise how broad and active the network of support for Ukraine in Belgium truly is.
«I was really surprised. I thought only a few organizations in Belgium were working for Ukraine, but then I realized I was wrong. It’s really nice to see such a strong community.
We all share the same purpose – supporting Ukraine […] We stand united with Ukraine,» said Father Karel.
Among the ambassadors is Bertrand Waucquez, the mayor of a Belgian municipality. According to him, support for Ukraine should take place not only at the level of European institutions, but also within local communities.
«What can I do as the mayor of a small town close to Brussels? I’m not making decisions at the European level. I’m not deciding, for example, on residence permits after March 2027. But what we can do at the local level is support projects, and take initiatives like these,» he said.
One of the challenges discussed during the meeting was the gradual decline in public attention to the war across Europe.
«Because of war fatigue, it is becoming more difficult to persuade people here to continue helping Ukraine,» said Sylvie Wullus, a Belgian architect who has been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
At the same time, she emphasized that it is important not only to support Ukraine, but also to help Ukrainians who have found refuge in Belgium integrate into local society and access employment opportunities.
At UVRC, we see the Ambassadors Council as a long-term platform for coordinating and strengthening the network of support for Ukraine in Belgium. We aim to foster closer cooperation between the Ukrainian and Belgian communities, engage new partners, and support initiatives that benefit both Ukraine and Ukrainians.
Photo credit: Ievgeniia Pavlenko