Dr. h. c. prof. Mgr. Slávka Tomaščíková, PhD., Vice-Rector for International Relations at UPJŠ in Košice, welcomed Ing. Eduard Buraš, Ambassador of Zakarpattia and Director of the Feman Association, to the university on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The purpose of the meeting was to hand over the proceeds from the Light and Warmth for Ukraine collection to the association to be transported across the Slovak border to our eastern neighbours as soon as possible. “Candles, wax, and batteries will be transported today to the city of Uzhhorod in Ukraine, where they will be unloaded at Sister Marietta’s CONGREGACIO JESU. From there, they will be distributed wherever this aid is needed. The wax will be used to make trench candles, which are essential for the survival of people affected by the war in areas without electricity. They will help families, seniors, and soldiers in eastern Ukraine, where temperatures are currently freezing and reaching -25°C,” specified Director Buraš. UPJŠ in Košice announced its third wax collection for Ukraine, starting on January 15, 2026. University employees and students donated wax, unburned or new candles, tea lights, lanterns, flashlights, headlamps, power banks, and various types of batteries to designated boxes at 17 collection points set up on the university premises.
Thanks to the generosity of university staff and students, approximately 130 kilograms of wax, 240 different types of batteries, 17 light fixtures, lighters, and power banks were collected during the first three weeks. “We have organized wax collection in previous academic years. Based on our cooperation with the Feman association, we remained in contact with its director, Mr. Buraš, who informed us about the renewed shortage of collected material in Ukraine. Since our employees and students showed great interest and willingness to participate in this collection, we decided without hesitation to support its next edition. Thanks go to everyone who contributed, without whom the university could not organize such projects,” said Vice-Rector Tomaščíková.
The Light and Warmth for Ukraine collection was originally supposed to last until January 30, 2026, but due to the great interest of the academic community at UPJŠ in Košice it was extended until February 15, 2026.
In the second round of the collection, we received approximately 70 kilograms of wax, 60 electric candles, and other batteries. The collected material was handed over by RNDr. Jaroslava Oravcová, PhD., head of the Marketing and Media Communication Department at UPJŠ in Košice, to Ing. Eduard Buraš, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the UPJŠ Rectorate in Košice. The donated candles and batteries were handed over in Uzhhorod on Friday, February 20, 2026.
UPJŠ in Košice and the Feman association jointly provided our eastern neighbours with approximately 200 kilograms of wax, more than 250 batteries, and other electric lights, power banks, and lighters.
We would like to thank everyone who supported the Light and Warmth for Ukraine collection.
