Declaration of solidarity by KURVE Wustrow24.2.2025, Wustrow#We stand with the people of Ukraine - Together for peace and freedom.KURVE Wustrow stands with the people of UkraineSupporting civil society: We support Ukrainian civil society in its struggle for justice, democracy and human rights.On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022, KURVE Wustrow expresses its solidarity with the people in Ukraine. We continue to stand irrevocably by the side of the people in Ukraine who are suffering under the terrible conditions of war and support Ukrainian civil society in its tireless nonviolent endeavours for peace, freedom and its own sovereignty.#We stand with the people of Ukraine.In these challenging times, as the world community turns its attention to Ukraine, it is vital that we raise our voices and support the people in Ukraine in their endeavours to end aggression and find a peaceful and just solution. This is because Ukrainian civil society plays a key role in building resilience and cohesion. We have been supporting civil society actors in Ukraine in their non-violent work as part of the Civil Peace Service (CPS) since 2017:Coalition 'Justice for Peace in Donbas'/ Eastern Ukrainian Centre for Civic Initiatives (EUCCI)Platform for Conflict Transformation in Local Communities (AMES, Network for Responsible People, Theatre for Change)East SOSFoundation for Community Development The majority of our partners have had to relocate from eastern Ukraine to the western part of the country. Without exception, all organisations support civil society in various areas:Psychosocial support: The partner organisation East SOS offers psychosocial support in the form of burnout prevention for activists and workshops on dealing with stress and trauma for young people. It also supports widows who have recently lost their husbands in the war in coming to terms with their loss. The partner organisation Theatre for Change offers people a space to express their emotions through forum theatre workshops.Documentation of human rights violations: The partner organisation EUCCI documents violations of international humanitarian law and initiates debates on the effects of human rights violations and massive violence.Conflict management courses: Colleagues from AMES offer conflict management courses, mediation training and do-no-harm workshops for civil society and mayors at local level lasting several weeks. In this way, they support local actors in dealing with conflicts constructively and thus contribute to strengthening social cohesion in the affected communities.Opportunities for encounters near the front line: The Foundation for Community Development (FCD) has founded the cultural and media centre "Bez Mesh" (Without Borders), which offers internally displaced persons and the local population in Kramatorsk, a city near the front line, opportunities for encounters and mutual support. In an environment characterised by daily airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and an approaching frontline, FCD offers the remaining population opportunities for encounters and exchange.These examples show that we are working with our partners to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian society and promote social cohesion. We are convinced that international solidarity with and attention for the people in Ukraine is crucial to ending the war and achieving a just solution. We are also convinced that it should be the Ukrainians who determine how a just peace solution for Ukraine can be formulated.We acknowledge the courage and resilience of the people in Ukraine, for whom our partners are exemplary. In particular, we call on the German peace movement and the entire international community to continue to actively and practically support the local population and Ukrainian civil society in their efforts to achieve a just peace. Together we can accompany society in Ukraine on its path to a just solution and reconstructionIt is precisely for this purpose that the Civil Peace Service makes a non-violent contribution and should also be given continuity and strengthening under the new German government#We stand with the people of Ukraine.Felix Schimansky-Geier, Country Coordinator of the CPS project at KURVE Wustrow, On behalf of the entire KURVE Wustrow,Wustrow, Kyiv, Ushgorod 24 February 2025Picture credits above: KURVE Wustrow. The photo shows Kiev in 2019.