Close cooperation between Switzerland and the Transcarpathia has continued for over 16 years in many areas. For the first time visiting our region many years ago, Swiss activists were amazed by the fact how similar Switzerland and Transcarpathia nature and ethnic diversity. In 2001 in order to develop cooperation in various fields in Switzerland "NeSTU" – "Network Switzerland – Transcarpathia/Ukraine" was created, which unites currently more than 200 members and a large number of organizations in Switzerland and Ukraine.

From the beginning "NeSTU" goal was to be a stimulator of a variety of projects and initiatives in social, cultural, environmental, scientific and economic spheres. Thus, the network's partners are the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (Bern), Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape (Bressendorff), Caritas Switzerland (Lucerne), MACZ "Medical Aid Committee in Transcarpathia" (Uzhhorod), "Molotok" (Nyzhnye Selysche), "Carpathian Foundation" (Uzhhorod), Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Rakhiv), Chamber Choir "Cantus" (Uzhhorod) and others. The overall objective of integrating these and other organizations lies in exchange between Switzerland and Transcarpathia in order to develop these two regions in various fields.

One of the most successful examples of this cooperation has been the creation of the new Swiss Association "Parasolka", which at the moment is engaged in protection of the rights of people with disabilities in Transcarpathian region, works on radical transformation of care for children with disabilities in Vilshany Orphanage as well as created a unique Rehabilitation-Abilitation Center "Parasolka" for the persons with disabilities, being the graduates of the Vilshany Orphanage. The Swiss have been assisting these institutions financially for many years, and their specialists (doctors, social workers, speech pathologists, etc) have made everything to transform actually the institution into an example of what should be the orphanages. In particular, in "Parasolka" young people learn to be independent, have the opportunity to live in a separate comfortable rooms, work in own household and in weaving, carpentry and felt workshops.

Together with one of the most prestigious choirs of Europe, Uzhhorod Cantus, "NeSTU" cooperates in the cultural sphere. In the frames of this Cantus had several great tours along Switzerland, and created a unique project of singing workshops in which experienced singers from both countries together have an opportunity to learn and make performances. Also in the frames of the cultural cooperation there were several documentaries filmed, in particular the film "Lopuhovo" (Director – Jara Malevez, joint production with "Tribu-Films", Brussels), the premiere of which was held in Brussels in 2005, being successfully demonstrated at many film festivals and several international TV channels.

Last Sunday, August 27, in the small Swiss town of Stotz (Canton of Lucerne) the network "NeSTU" organized a meeting of members of the Association and all interested persons on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine. The celebration was held on the territory of famous local Museum Ronmuhle – an old mill building contained a large collection of antiquities. The guests had come from all over Switzerland along with whole families, children and grandchildren. In general, there were about 80 persons arrived to communicate and to spend the day in Ukrainian style. There were the Ukrainians among them, who moved for permanent residence to Switzerland many years ago.

The celebration was opened by well known incendiary "Hudaki" – a folk band from Nyzhnye Selysche. "Hudaki" have been cooperating with "NeSTU" for many years, thus for the active part of the network their music has became familiar and beloved since long ago. And now the "Hudaki" fuse did not leave anyone indifferent, and the Swiss, the Ukrainians could not stand dancing under the Hutsul, Hungarian, Jewish and other folk songs.

Later on, the journalist of "ProZahid" Tetyana Literati told the guests of the festival about the project "Lost Uzhhorod". Many of those present had been in Uzhhorod knew about its history, so during communication many persons talked about why there are so few natives residing in Uzhhorod, why memory of the citizens is lost as to the pre-war town, and as Uzhhorod loses and fights for the historic character of its architectural highlights nowadays.

After serious conversations of the festival guests, they were invited to the feast. The longstanding partners "NeSTU" from Uzhhorod - the members CO "Medical Aid Committee in Transcarpathia" Natalia Kabatsiy and Lesya Levko prepared the real Ukrainian borsch, then the Swiss were treated with shashlyk (grilled meat) (even though it is not a Ukrainian dish, but the activists of the "NeSTU" had visited Transcarpathia, namely this dish is associated for Ukrainians associate with the holiday feast).

The festive supper on the tables being decorated with sunflowers was very colorful, also thanks to the re-performance of "Hudaki". Borsch, shashlyk, vodka and Transcarpathian songs – the old Museum Romule has not seen such a delicious and fun Ukrainian festival! The guest did not go away for a long time, almost with tears in their eyes thanked the organizers and the Swiss, the Ukrainians, who, according to their words, as if went back home again.

The event devoted to Independence Day of Ukraine, was certainly not only of the entertainment purpose. Thus, the network "NeSTU" reminded its members about the purpose for which it was created, about Transcarpathia, which had already being loved as a second home by many of the Swiss, about the importance of joint social projects. Many of those presented "NeSTU" activists at the celebration plan to arrive to Transcarpathia, so during the visit it was also the discussion about the future plans of the network as well as the gifts were given for the inmates of the Vilshany Orphanage and "Parasolka".