In Tokyo, the Ukrainian-Japanese forum took place, where Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska participated in discussions on the economic recovery of our country.
The event featured representatives from governments, businesses, and international organizations. The Ukrainian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka.
In her speech, Olena Zelenska highlighted that post-war recovery must consider the human aspect.
«Restoring homes and businesses is essential, but it's not sufficient. They mean nothing if there are no people living and working in them. It is said that “if we restore the person, the person will restore everything”. Thus, restoring human capital is one of the most critical dimensions of rebuilding», – she emphasized.
She pointed out that despite daily shelling from Russia, Ukrainians are still working and studying, while the state is implementing important humanitarian initiatives.
«We are trying to rebuild everything we can without waiting for the war to end. The aggressor wants to take not just lives but also the quality of life away from us. We must resist this as well», – noted Olena Zelenska.
The First Lady also spoke about the school nutrition reform, which has already established 1,000 modern school kitchens, trained 6,500 cooks, and provided free daily lunches for primary school students.
«This is not just about health, calories, and taste – it's about a sense of care and security for children and their families. We aim for all schoolchildren to have access to free meals», – she added.
Additionally, Olena Zelenska shared information about the projects of the Olena Zelenska Foundation aimed at helping children in Ukraine.
«We have already restored 17 shelters in schools and kindergartens, created six educational spaces – Superhero Schools – at children's hospitals, built 15 homes for large foster families to ensure every child has a “Childhood Address”, and started establishing the first five youth psychosocial support spaces “12-21”. Ukrainians, both young and old, have the right to live safely and with care – not “someday”, but right now», – she concluded.
The First Lady also expressed gratitude to Japan for its significant financial, humanitarian, and technical assistance to Ukraine.
