As of late September, 4.3 million Ukrainians in the European Union were registered under temporary protection. While many Ukrainians living abroad are employed, pursuing education, and actively engaged in their communities, they are often reduced to the image of aid recipients. Such narratives are frequently used by Eurosceptic and anti-Ukrainian groups to weaken public support for Ukraine.
The volunteer campaign “We’re Cleaning Our Common Home,” initiated by Strichka, seeks to challenge these perceptions by showcasing Ukrainians as active, responsible contributors to local communities across the EU.
The campaign runs from November 2025 through March 2026 and covers 13 cities in nine countries: Lithuania, Germany, Slovenia, France, Italy, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Czech Republic. A total of 14 local partner organizations are involved in its implementation.
Slovenia became the first country to host a toloka within this initiative. On November 13, Ukrainians, together with members of the NGO Društvo Ukrajincev v Sloveniji Razom, took part in a volunteer effort to clean and care for plants at the historic Ljubljana Botanical Garden, one of the oldest in Europe.
