Supporting Ukrainians’ Resilience and Recovery in Toronto
Supporting Ukrainians’ Resilience and Recovery in Toronto
The Ukrainian Pop-Up Shop in Toronto.
A Ukrainian Pop-Up Shop launched in Toronto with the support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is delighting scores of holiday visitors, and helping to support economic recovery in Ukraine. The shop features the art and products of over 50 Ukrainian artists and craftspeople, including small businesses launched by veterans and those from war-affected regions of Ukraine where shelling is an everyday occurrence.
Kateryna Kliui creates handmade “motanka” dolls that are traditional family amulets in Ukraine. “I live close to the (Russian) border in Chernihiv region. If something happens to my home, my dolls will be preserved in Canada.”
The Pop-Up Shop is not only promoting the handmade crafts of talented artisans but also showcasing Ukrainian art and culture. Tetiana Protcheva is a master embroider from Kyiv, who is known for her innovative designs combining traditional Ukrainian embroidery and modern technological elements like QR codes to promote deeper understanding of Ukrainian culture and history.
Motanka dolls at the Ukrainian Pop-Up Shop ->
“It is extremely important to show how creative Ukrainian people are and help them promote their business,” said Tetiana. The launch of the Pop-Up Shop in September 2024 coincided with the largest Ukrainian festival in North America, which promotes Ukrainian culture and brings in over 1 million visitors annually.
“I really admire the resilience of our artists,” said Oleh Nikolenko, the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto. “At a time when Ukraine is being bombed daily, people who don’t have necessary electricity or basic services continue to create and produce high quality goods and products.”
Handmade crafts from the Ukrainian Pop-Up Shop.
Oleh is one of the primary organizers of the Pop-Up Shop. He explained how the project comes at a time when Ukraine is continuing to face Russian invasion, with the past almost three years of war having done extensive damage to Ukraine’s exports and overall economy. Facilitating the export of small businesses’ goods aims to help create new export channels for Ukraine and contribute to its long-term recovery.
The Pop-Up Shop participants were organized by NAZOVNI.Online, an economic diplomacy platform affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. In partnership with IOM, NAZOVNI.Online coordinated with Meest Canada the shipping of the participants’ wares. So far, 45 containers with the products have been shipped from Ukraine to Canada.
Handmade crafts from the Ukrainian Pop-Up Shop.
Additionally, IOM facilitated the shop’s social media marketing to boost sales and spread the word about this unique Ukrainian place in Toronto. “The Pop-Up Shop gives an opportunity for Ukrainian small businesses to introduce their goods outside of Ukraine,” said Oleksandra Sologub, Operational Director of NAZOVNI.Online. “The situation right now is not easy. Even with the power cuts and everything the businesses are running. They’re trying to stabilize, they’re trying to give [places of work] to people.”
The organizers are enthusiastic about the initiative, and for Canadians and other visitors to the shop to discover what Ukrainians can create. The Pop-Up Shop is currently available for in-person shopping at 3015 Winston Churchill Boulevard, Unit 5, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm.
The initiative is additionally funded through USA for IOM and supported by IOM United States and the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the Ukrainian Pop-Up Shop, please contact Mariia Dakhym at +1 (437) 299-3643 or visit the shop’s Facebook page.
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Creating Sustainable Solutions to Recovery with the Ukrainian Diaspora
Ukrainians across the United States are determined to build a better future for their home country.
Beyond providing lifesaving aid since the start of the war, Ukrainian-Americans seek long-term solutions on the road to recovery. Together with partners, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), USA for IOM, and the U.S. Government are actively providing support to the needs on the ground and are prioritizing the innovative strategies being created to fill humanitarian gaps.
As part of their Diaspora Voices and Ukraine Partnership Series initiatives, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships (GP) held a roundtable event on September 13th with U.S.-based Ukrainian diaspora organizations. The event was a collaboration between GP, IOM, USA for IOM, USAID, and the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, with the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC).
During the event at the UECC in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, the Ukrainian diaspora’s vital contributions supporting communities affected by the ongoing war were recognized. The discussion focused on the strengths and experiences of the diaspora organizations, the capacities of government and nongovernmental actors to help sustain existing efforts, continued collaboration and mutual long-term goals for Ukraine. The need to strengthen private sector engagement was recognized as essential to creating long-term solutions.
The critical importance of local actors was emphasized, as was the need for Ukrainians to ‘take back the narrative’ of the war and to tell the personal stories of those affected. Donations have decreased dramatically since the first months of the war, and by showcasing the direct human impact and stories of resilience, the attendees are hopeful the American public will understand why support to populations affected by the conflict continues to be a priority.
The Ukrainian organizations present at the event have extensive experience in providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, including sourcing and sending medical kits and other supplies, and traveling to Ukraine themselves to provide direct support to hospitals, schools and other local organizations. These powerful civil society groups are highly motivated to coordinate with large-scale actors to most effectively support ongoing programs that benefit Ukrainian communities.
With over 5.1 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine, there are multiple urgent challenges to be addressed. Roundtable participants discussed steps to recovery, including rebuilding infrastructure, and addressing the collective trauma of Ukrainians and post-traumatic stress disorder, which is widespread.
Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, IOM has refocused its programs and projects, and from February 2022 to March 2023 reached close to three million people with humanitarian support that includes provision of non-food and hygiene items; water, sanitation and hygiene support; multipurpose cash; emergency health and mental health and psychosocial support; assistance to collective centers; protection and other types of support. IOM’s Mission in Ukraine further fights trafficking in human beings, assists the Government in dealing with irregular migration, improving its migration management system, and creating migrant-inclusive health practices and policies. Click here to learn more about IOM’s work in Ukraine.
More than 463,000 people affected by the Ukraine conflict have received multisectoral support through USA for IOM support to IOM’s emergency response. The response focuses on providing shelter, healthcare, cash assistance and immediate basic needs for conflict-affected populations. These include IDPs, host communities and stranded third-country nationals.
IOM engages with diaspora communities globally as part of the 3E Strategy of Engaging, Enabling and Empowering diasporas. To meet the increasing needs arising from multiple crises worldwide, IOM’s work with diasporas not only expands the reach of humanitarian action but leverages their skills and networks, puts agency back into the hands of affected communities, and helps to build more sustainable, long-term solutions to crisis situations.
To learn more about opportunities to partner, contact USA for IOM at usaforiom@iom.int or IOM Ukraine at SMUKRcfm@iom.int. To learn more about IOM’s work and initiatives with diasporas, contact IOM Washington’s Diaspora Engagement Unit at diasporaforhumanity@iom.int.
