Czechs Support Ukraine’s National Day at EXPO 2025 with a Panel Discussion in the Czech Pavilion, Highlighting the Importance of Education in Times of War

At the heart of Czechia’s participation was a panel discussion titled “Ukraine’s Unbreakable Classrooms: A Story of Educational Resilience Amid War”, which spotlighted inspiring stories of Ukrainian teachers and students continuing their education under extraordinary conditions – sometimes in makeshift shelters, sometimes online, but always with determination.

“It is a true honor for me to welcome you today here in Daisue hall, the very heart of the Czech Pavilion on the occasion of Ukraine’s National Day at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai. This gathering is not only a discussion about education, but also a testament to the unbreakable spirit of a nation that has been forced to defend its very existence – and yet continues to protect its children’s future through knowledge and learning. Education in times of peace is an essential foundation for prosperity. But education in times of war becomes something even greater, something most of us cannot imagine. It becomes an act of defiance, resilience and hope. To teach children while sirens wail outside, to keep schools alive when classrooms are threatened – this is nothing less than a declaration that their future cannot and will not be erased,” said Ondřej Soška, Czech Commissioner General for EXPO 2025, in his opening remarks. He continued, “For us in Czechia, Ukraine’s struggle is not a distant story. It is a shared experience, one deeply rooted in our own history. We know what it means to have freedom suppressed, to face aggression, and to fight for the survival of identity, culture, and independence. And that is why Czechia has stood with Ukraine in its darkest hours — and will continue to stand with Ukraine until victory and peace are achieved.”

The discussion was co-organized by Osvitoria, a leading Ukrainian educational organization. Speakers included its founder and executive producer of the acclaimed documentary Timestamp, Zoya Lytvyn; teacher and soldier Borys Khovriak, whose story is featured in the film; and student Darii Kuzminskyi, representing Ukraine’s resilient youth. They were joined by two Japanese experts – Shimpei Taguchi, an innovator with extensive experience in education and Japan-Ukraine cooperation, and Haruko Kamei, Director General of the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development, a respected authority on education, gender, and international development.

The panel was moderated by British journalist Felicity Spector. The atmosphere of the event was further enriched by emotional excerpts from Timestamp, which was recognized at Berlinale and described by The New York Times as “a documentary portrait of a country through its children.”

“Ukrainian children may make up just 15 percent of our population, but they are 100 percent of our future,” said Zoya Lytvyn during the discussion. Borys Khovriak and Darii Kuzminskyi added context with stark facts: “One in seven schools in Ukraine has been damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian attacks. This is no coincidence – it is a deliberate tactic by Russia, aimed at systematically dismantling Ukraine’s education system and destroying the country’s future through targeted strikes on schools. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children have been learning online for five years now, many of them having never met their classmates in person.”

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Czechia for its steadfast support of Ukraine – not only on the political stage, but also through concrete actions. Czechia continues to demonstrate its solidarity, whether through defense initiatives or by opening its pavilion to us today. We deeply value the opportunity to share a story that goes beyond the war itself – a story of resilience, education, dignity, and hope,” said Zoya Lytvyn.

The panel discussion was part of a broader program of Ukraine’s National Day, which included concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, and themed discussions across multiple national pavilions. Each of these events stood as a sign of unified support from European and international partners. Through its National Day, Ukraine also offered thanks to those countries that share its values and have shown enduring solidarity, in line with the theme of its participation at EXPO: “Values Are Not for Sale.”

The Czech Pavilion was visited during the day by Ukraine’s official delegation, which included Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications and Commissioner General for Ukraine at EXPO 2025 Tetyana Berezhna, along with other members of the Ukrainian government. 

“We are sincerely grateful to the Czech Republic and the team of the Czech Pavilion for the warm welcome and the exceptional atmosphere they created for Ukraine today. Your space is a genuine example of modernity, openness, and the strength of European values,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha during the visit. “Special thanks go to you for your active participation and support of Ukraine’s National Day at EXPO. You have done – and continue to do – so much for our country in humanitarian, political, security, and cultural spheres. Thanks to partners like Czechia, Ukraine continues to fight and to win – on all fronts,” he concluded.

The official opening ceremony of Ukraine’s National Day in the National Day Hall was attended in the morning by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska. In her speech, she reminded the audience that Ukrainian values are under constant attack and erosion. Although they are not for sale, they are persistently being bargained with. She called for mutual understanding and shared knowledge – the best antidote to superficial judgment and the devaluation of truth.

About the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025
In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Commissioner General announced an open, anonymous architectural competition to design the National Pavilion for EXPO 2025. A total of 38 design teams submitted their proposals. In March 2023, a professional jury chaired by world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná selected the winning concept: a glass spiral design by Apropos Architects. The pavilion’s main structure is made of modern wooden panels, while the façade features artistic glass—a material with a centuries-old tradition in Czechia. The Czech National Pavilion offers a dignified and functional space for Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025, which will take place from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. Inside the pavilion, visitors will find a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, business facilities, a restaurant, and the CTP Lounge. In front of the pavilion, a seaside relaxation zone offers a scenic view for guests. The pavilion was officially approved in early April 2025 and is the largest wooden structure of its kind in Japan built without a metal support frame.