UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, has become a partner of the non-profit organization Libraries Without Borders (Bibliothèques Sans Frontières). As part of this collaboration, equipment has been provided to the Women and Girls Safe Space "Vilna" and Survivor Relief Centre, which will help teams work with visitors to these spaces using new approaches and innovative tools. To facilitate this, the Bibliothèques Sans Frontières team conducted a special training session for representatives of these projects.

BSF physical and digital libraries, Ideas Box and Ideas Cube, have been deployed in less than 20 minutes in order to open a cultural and educational center with a library, tablets, computers, and creative and multimedia material. It can accommodate 50 people and operate autonomously even during power outages.

“Throughout the project, BSF aims to use innovative ways of culture and education to provide information and services to survivors as well as to those most vulnerable to CRSV. It offers them a safe space to discuss the challenges they face and to address root causes such as gender inequality,  by sharing stories of empowerment and survival along with virtual support resources related to entrepreneurship and creativity. Additionally, the Ideas Box and Ideas Cube will offer mental health and psychosocial support by giving access to information on assisting survivors and those at risk”, said Irene Martes Sanchez, BSF Program Coordinator for Ukraine.

These mobile libraries will be placed in the Women and Girls Safe Spaces "Vilna" in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Kryvyi Rih, address of spaces https://ukraine.unfpa.org/uk/Vilna%20contacts. 

Also, in Survivor Relief Centres in Kyiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv, the addresses of centers are https://ukraine.unfpa.org/uk/SRC. 

Visitors to the spaces and centers will be able to participate in activities within these unique libraries soon.

“UNFPA greatly values its partnership with Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, which allows us to innovate in supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Through this collaboration, we provide not just vital information but practical assistance. Initiatives like the mobile Ideas Box and Ideas Cube are crucial in offering psychological support and essential resources for recovery, even in the toughest conditions. We are confident that this partnership will enable us to extend even more help to those in need," said Massimo Diana, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine.

This cooperation is made possible through the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict Network, which is administered by the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.