Building a Bridge Between Boulder and Vinnytsia: A Special Visit from Ukraine

Ukrainian partner Sergii shares his firsthand perspective on life in Ukraine and the opportunities for meaningful connection between Boulder and Vinnytsia during a recent lunch and learn at the Boulder Highland City Club.

At a recent Boulder–Vinnytsia Sister City board meeting, our conversation about international partnership became especially personal when we welcomed Sergii Z., a Ukrainian partner working on the ground to support children and families affected by the war.

Sergii shared a firsthand perspective on daily life in Ukraine, the realities communities continue to face, and the resilience he sees every day. He also spoke about Vinnytsia and the potential for the sister city relationship to create meaningful connections between people, organizations and communities in Ukraine and Colorado.

The meeting also highlighted work already connecting our communities. Michael Brady shared more about Frontier Horizon’s work with children in Ukraine, including Camp Dreamland, a respite camp that gives Ukrainian children time to play, connect and simply be kids. This summer, 40 children from Vinnytsia were among those able to attend Camp Dreamland through support from Frontier Horizon donors.

While that participation was not funded by the Boulder–Vinnytsia Sister City partnership, it offers a tangible example of what can happen when relationships between communities begin to grow: people learn about one another, organizations discover shared priorities, and new possibilities for collaboration emerge.

For board members, Sergii’s visit was an opportunity to hear directly from someone living and working within this reality—not simply about what Ukraine needs, but about the people, ideas and partnerships that can help build a stronger future.

As the Boulder–Vinnytsia relationship continues to take shape, conversations like this help move the partnership from a signed agreement to something lived: one introduction, one shared story and one human connection at a time.

Members of the Boulder–Vinnytsia Sister City board gather for a recent meeting focused on strengthening relationships, sharing perspectives and exploring opportunities for continued connection between the Boulder and Vinnytsia communities.