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The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) Foundation has awarded a $22,000 grant to Kyiv School of Development (KSD), the school of professional real estate development, to train at least 100 reconstruction specialists to help rebuild Ukraine.

SIOR is the leading global association for real estate brokers and the SIOR Foundation is made up of real estate leaders from within the organisation, with a purpose to give back to the sector by supporting initiatives that Educate, Enhance, and Expand the commercial real estate community. It promotes best practices, responsible and sustainable development, and helps educate the next generation.

KSD, in the city centre of Kyiv, is a school focused on real estate development and construction management. Since 2017, more than 450 managers, owners of real estate development and construction companies, project managers, architects and other market specialists have graduated from this educational institution. Kyiv School of Development seeks to form an active community to change the rules of the market, as well as to educate specialists with the world standard values who create modern and progressive development projects. A new ‘Recovery Manager’ programme has now been developed by KSD to train property professionals in the reconstruction of Ukraine, regenerating towns and villages damaged by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Funded by the SIOR Foundation, it will provide free of charge training for at least 100 reconstruction specialists.

Iain Finnegan SIOR, FSCI, FRICS, President of the European Chapter and Managing Director of Dublin-based Chartered Surveyors firm Finnegan Menton, said: “The European Chapter applied to the SIOR Foundation for this grant to enable the ‘Recovery Manager’ programme to be established and benefit not just the 100 people who will enter the real estate profession by undertaking the course, but also the Ukraine as a whole. With the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2024) recently held in Germany focused on a whole society approach and bringing together stakeholders to facilitate recovery, we want to play our part, bringing our experience for the benefit of Ukraine.”

Matthew Leguen de Lacroix, SIOR, FRICS, as Head of Business Development at SIOR, who visited Ukraine and the school last year, said: “Having seen first-hand the devastation of towns and cities across Ukraine as a result of war, teaching the younger generation the skills to rebuild will be essential. We are pleased to support this educational programme.”

At the third SIOR International European Conference, fundraising to support Ukraine played a central role. Thanks to the efforts of SIOR members and conference attendees, circa €40,000 has already been raised. 

A 245 km cycle ride from Dublin to Kilkenny and back over two days has raised over €35,000 and counting (including pledges) and a SIOR Europe “Ryder Cup” event raised another €4,700.

50% of the full amount is being donated to the Ukraine Appeal to help those affected by the war and 50% to the SIOR Foundation which nurtures the next generation of leaders in real estate, providing educational programmes and mentoring support. The money will go towards supporting young people from the Ukraine interested in a career in the property sector.

Paul Danks, SIOR FRICS President of the European Regional Chapter of SIOR, said: “Using our conference, we were able to provide a great week of networking opportunities which also raised money to help Ukraine at this difficult time. We are delighted with the amount raised and thank everyone involved for their efforts.”

Donations are still being accepted up to 31st August 2022 and readers may donate by clicking here.

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