Sister Cities

The Sister Cities initiative is an exciting new way of connecting vital aid with the people who need it most. This Ukraine Aid International program pairs up US towns and cities with Ukrainian counterparts of similar pre-war population and shared characteristics. This selection process ensures that the sister communities have a strong foundation of commonalities to build upon and helps the potential for long-term success. Our aim is to foster social, cultural, educational, and economic exchanges between the paired communities and build lasting connections that will endure for generations.

In the short term, a Sister City program helps raise emergency funding to aid the remaining residents of the paired Ukrainian towns and cities along the front lines most affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Through the partnerships UAI fosters between sister cities, we strive to support these Ukrainian communities and help them rebuild during this challenging time.

Inspired by a World War II story of the town of Westport, Connecticut helping to rebuild Marigny in northern France after that war, our program seeks to make a positive impact on the communities we serve. It is fitting, then, that the first sister city relationship we launched was a three-city partnership between longtime sisters Westport and Marigny, and the city of Lyman in Donetsk. By pairing up US towns and cities with Ukrainian counterparts, we can create a powerful network of support and solidarity that transcends borders and strengthens our global community.

Through the Sister City Program, we aim to promote understanding and friendship between people of different cultures, encourage cultural exchange and learning, and build stronger ties between the United States and Ukraine.

If you and your town are interested in launching a sister city program of your own, we encourage you to contact us. We would be happy to share our experience and provide guidance to help you start your own program and make a difference in the lives of people around the world.