Mr. Walker started his trip with a visit to Malyn, Zhytomyr region, and had a meeting with Mr. Oleksiy Shostak, Mayor of Malyn, members of the Project Team, representatives of the local NGO “Open World” and the staff members of the district hospital where the project was implemented. During the meeting a project team presented the technology and benefits of solar panels used to supply the hospital with hot water. Mr. Waker noted high professionalism of the team and the importance of alternative energy to contribute to sustainable development in Ukraine. During the visit to Malyn Forest Technical College, Mr. Walker met Mr. Igor Ivaniuk, Director of the College, and researchers from Zhytomyr Agrarian University to discuss the project implemented in Kamyanka village, Zhytomyr region, and aimed at addressing degradation of local lands contaminated with radionuclide.
In Ostky village, Rivne region, Mr. Walker met Mr. Mykola Kushnir, Head of Rokytne Regional State Administration and Mr. Viktor Okhremchuk, Head of Snovydovychi Village Council. Along with the local government representatives, community members, civil society activists, representatives of Rivne Agrarian College and youth eco-clubs UN Resident Coordinator joined a walking tour to the SGP Project sites to learn about the community contribution to preservation and rehabilitation of flora and fauna in Polissya region. In the course of his travel he also visited Ostky School to meet SGP grantee-partners, Mr. Mykola Lopuga, Principal of Snovydovychi village school and NGO representatives, in particular, Ms. Svitlana Titechko, Head of NGO Ecological Club “Parostok”, Mr. Viktor Khomych, Head of Youth NGO “Smart”, Member of Public Council at Sarny Regional State Administration and Mr. Vasyl Kuzmych, Head of Rivne region NGO “For Clean Environment” which is implementing the GEF SGP project related to production of alternative fuel, i.e. wooden pellets at the site.
At the end of his visit, Ms. Svitlana Nigorodova, SGP National Coordinator, held a presentation for the local partners to identify the GEF SGP approaches and priorities for GEF VI. She answered questions from the audience, identified community needs and consulted them on the support possibilities provided by the GEF SGP.