The fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen held in Kyiv

On the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, the fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was held in Kyiv. This year, for the first time, the event spanned two days and attracted the largest number of participants in its history. First ladies and gentlemen, as well as education sector representatives from 20 countries around the world, joined in person and online. Guests of honour at the summit included the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.

‘Firstly, I would like to thank you all for making the difficult decision to come here. To a country where there is an ongoing war. I want you to know that today you are not only participating in a major diplomatic event, a visionary discussion, but you are also helping us, Ukrainians, to feel that life – in its normal sense – goes on,’ said the First Lady of Ukraine in her speech.

Valentyna Poltorak, Deputy Chair of DOCCU NGO and the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project Manager, also took part in the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.

Overall, the participants of this year’s ‘Education Shaping the World’ Summit focused on four areas:

• Access to education as a fundamental right, regardless of circumstances, including in wartime.

• Technology and innovation, with an emphasis on ethical use.

• The role of education in promoting peace and humanitarian values.

• Teaching as a vocation and profession that shapes generations.

Following the Summit, the First Lady of Ukraine, together with her colleagues from other countries, announced the launch of a global communication campaign in support of education, entitled ‘Every Generation Leaves Its Mark. Education Shapes Its Legacy’.

The campaign will cover many countries and encourage leaders, educators, and citizens to view education as more than just a right; it is also the most effective tool for creating a peaceful, ethical, and sustainable future.

The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

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