At TNC26, we witnessed the official launch of the Humanitarian Support Group for NRENs, a new initiative designed to help our community provide practical, coordinated support to NRENs affected by conflict, natural disasters, prolonged infrastructure failures, and other major crises. The group provides a structured, community-driven framework for mobilising financial, technical, and social support, ensuring assistance reaches those who need it most, when they need it most.
The launch was particularly fitting, as solidarity and support were at the heart of the conference’s first Community Hub session, which explored what solidarity looks like in practice when colleagues are living and working through crisis. We began by watching a poignant video from URAN, the Ukrainian NREN, reflecting on a year in the life of the organisation and its people as they continue their work under the realities of war. It was a powerful reminder of the resilience and determination of colleagues who continue to support research and education despite extraordinary personal and professional challenges.
The video has now been published on the GÉANT YouTube channel, and you can watch it here:
The conversation was then brought vividly to life through the presentation Living Between Two Worlds: War, Distance, and Solidarity in the NREN Community by Yuliia Meshcheryna from GÉANT. Speaking with remarkable honesty and courage, Yuliia shared what it means to build a life and career abroad while remaining deeply connected to a country at war. Her reflections highlighted the reality of trying to remain professionally active while family members, friends, and communities back home face daily danger. Through her personal experiences, she reminded us that behind every organisation are people carrying burdens that are often invisible to others. It was a powerful reminder that solidarity starts with recognising those realities and supporting one another through them.
The Humanitarian Support Group grew out of exactly this spirit of support. In recent years, members of the NREN community have come together informally to assist Ukraine through fundraising, equipment donations, and practical assistance.
While these efforts have made a tangible difference, the ongoing nature of the war has highlighted the need for a more sustainable and coordinated approach. Drawing on its experience of operating under extreme conditions for more than four years, URAN proposed the creation of a permanent support mechanism that could help NRENs facing not only conflict, but also other major disruptions such as extreme weather events or critical infrastructure failures. The new group aims to transform community goodwill and expertise into an operational capability that can respond effectively to both immediate emergencies and long-term crises.
An extraordinary addition to the TNC26 programme came in the form of a lightning talk by Brian Nisbet from Asiera, who introduced this year’s record TNC audience to the Humanitarian Support Group and its current fundraising initiative in support of URAN.
The group serves as a central coordination point, helping identify resources available across the community, assess support requirements, and connect NRENs in need with organisations and individuals able to help. Support may take many forms, including financial assistance, emergency equipment such as generators and networking infrastructure, technical and operational expertise, and wider community initiatives that provide encouragement and solidarity.
What makes this initiative particularly significant is that, for the first time, individual members of the community can contribute directly through dedicated donation channels, alongside institutional support from NRENs and partner organisations.
TNC26 participants responded with incredible generosity, exceeding expectations and creating an extraordinary wave of support for URAN that reflects the solidarity and shared values of the global R&E community.
All donations are made possible through the Vietsch Foundation, which receives and administers the donated funds following an agreement with GÉANT signed in 2022, shortly after the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, to support URAN.
Here’s how to contribute:
community.geant.org/how-to-contribute/
When members of our community face crisis, they should never have to face it alone.
