CANactions is the main architecture event in Ukraine. It is held in Kyiv every year, this year from May 14 to 16. CANactions is a platform for sharing ideas between urbanists, architects, politicians and a wider public. In times of crisis, architecture has an important role to play. It is a mirror and a driver of change in society. 

CANactions is attended by urbanists and architects from Ukraine and other European countries. This year, architects from Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands take part. They hold workshops, give lectures, share ideas and experiences and engage in discussions with a wider public and the media. Politicians and investors are offered the opportunity to get acquainted with contemporary trends in international architecture.

CANactions has been held annually since 2008. In recent years, it has attracted more than 2500 professional attendees and up to 10'000 interested lay people.

In 2015, as in 2014, Switzerland is the main partner of CANactions. There will be workshops and lectures by Swiss architects Sebastian Carella (Valerio Olgiati Architects), Verena Huber (VSI SWB) and Markus Schaefer (Hosoya Schaefer Architects).

More information and festival’s program can be found under: http://www.canactions.com/

Various publications, interviews and videos from CANactions 2014 are available on the website of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

Around hundred young people – students, activists – participated in the meeting with Swiss politician Mr. François Lachat, First President of the government of the youngest Canton of Jura in Switzerland.

The event was organized by the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn School in partnership with Swiss Cooperation Office Ukraine and the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

Welcoming speech was presented by Dr. Dr Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, Head of the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Charitable Foundation. All the participants were also greeted by Dr Christian Schoenenberger, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine and Mr Holger Tausch, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office Ukraine.

Mr. François Lachat is a politician with significant experience. At his time he was a Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) of the Swiss Parliament, Co-founder & former vice-president of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), Head of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). During his speech, Mr. Lachat shared his knowledge and experience in finding consensus in controversial political and local conflicts peacefully, showing it on the example of Canton of Jura.

For Ukraine Swiss experience in conflict solving could be of great importance, especially at the current situation. This was demonstrated by the youth that was asking serious questions and provoking hot discussion.