Project Ukraine 2024

After Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainians became the largest displaced community in Europe. Spread across the continent, they were often offered locations by host authorities and organized themselves into associations and centers. Deeply moved by the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine, we wanted to support these communities. Our project, which focuses on creating reading studios—safe and cozy spaces filled with books—proved to fulfill a deep need.

We collaborated with partner organizations, both pre-existing and newly established Ukrainian associations, in numerous cities across the United Kingdom, Poland, and Switzerland. Along the way, we discovered vibrant cultural centers, enthusiastic readers, and dedicated librarians.

The books were purchased from Ukraine through a specially curated catalogue, balancing poetry, modern classics, and contemporary novels for children, teenagers, and adults. All the books are in Ukrainian, with half of the titles being translations. In this way, our project also supports authors, translators, illustrators, and publishers in Ukraine—who, it must be emphasized, produce works of exceptional beauty and quality under incredibly difficult conditions.