World Ukrainianhood unites for Ukraine
Representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia took part in two international events in Kyiv
On 21 August in Kyiv, representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia took part in two important international events united by a shared theme — the unity of Ukrainians around the world and the responsibility of World Ukrainianhood for Ukraine’s future!
The morning began with the 8th Women’s Prayer Breakfast, organised by “World Ukrainianhood” (Світове Українство) and People’s Artist of Ukraine Oksana Bilozir, co-founder of prayer breakfasts in Ukraine, as part of the Third International Meeting of World Ukrainianhood “United in the World — Strong for Ukraine”. The international magazine Business Woman was the event’s information partner.
That day Kyiv was in mourning for those killed in yet another Russian attack, so the joint prayer for the dead, their families, Ukrainian defenders and for a just peace for Ukraine gave the meeting special meaning.
The prayer part began at St Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral with the participation of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius.
The Association’s Communications Director Inna Hordiienko also joined the joint prayer.
The day continued with the Third International Meeting of World Ukrainianhood “United in the World — Strong for Ukraine”, which brought together representatives of Ukrainian communities from 21 countries, state institutions, the diplomatic corps, the public sector and business.
The international meeting was organised by the NGO “World Ukrainianhood” with the support of general partner Business Woman Club.
One of the speakers of the forum was the Association’s chairman Volodymyr Palamar, who spoke in a discussion session devoted to global projects of Ukrainians abroad, humanitarian initiatives, education, culture, volunteering and the recovery of Ukraine.
In his speech Volodymyr Palamar presented the experience of the Ukrainian community in Estonia and stressed that the role of Ukrainian organisations abroad today is much broader than simply supporting the diaspora:
“Our communities are not just a diaspora or a rear base. They are Ukraine’s distributed infrastructure of resilience: humanitarian, educational, cultural, informational and human-rights.”
He paid particular attention to the experience of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia, which has been building the Ukrainian environment in the country for more than two decades and, after the start of the full-scale war, became one of the important centres of humanitarian, volunteer, educational and cultural support for Ukraine.
The speech also covered the work of Ukrainian schools in Estonia, the Ukrainian Film Club, cultural and media projects, the protection of Ukrainians’ rights, and the importance of long-term partnerships between communities, schools, hospitals, universities and cities of different countries.
“The recovery of Ukraine cannot wait for the last shot. It is already happening — in schools, in cultural centres, in volunteer headquarters, in partnerships between cities, in protecting the rights of every Ukrainian,” said the chairman of the Association’s board.
It is such international meetings that help Ukrainian communities in different countries not only to exchange experience but also to build a shared system of cooperation in which cultural diplomacy, humanitarian aid, education, human-rights protection and international partnerships work for one goal — strengthening Ukraine today and rebuilding it tomorrow.
We sincerely thank the NGO “World Ukrainianhood”, Business Woman Club, Business Woman magazine, Anya Krysiuk, Oksana Bilozir, all organisers, partners and participants for the opportunity to be part of this important international meeting.
United in the World — Strong for Ukraine