From June 23 to 26, 2023, the Ukrainian Feminist Network Organised an Offline Meeting with Participants in the Lviv Region.
We gathered with a group of 20 people and spent quality time by the banks of a mountain river, surrounded by beautiful mountains. We reunited with old acquaintances and met new faces from the feminist community of Ukraine. Each of our participants is doing remarkable work to support and build resilience in Ukrainian society during these times of full-scale war. Some are engaged in educational projects, while others focus on cultural initiatives. Some work in ethnotherapy, while others are actively involved in humanitarian efforts.
We came from different parts of Ukraine (Donetsk region, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Lviv) and from abroad (Australia, United Kingdom, Estonia, Poland, Italy). Although we are separated by distance, we are united by the idea of an independent and sovereign Ukraine, living on the principles of democracy and gender equality.
During the meeting, we enjoyed leisure time and held working sessions to shape the vision of our collective work, focusing on the key directions of the Network:
- Informing on the topic of war, its gendered experiences, and feminist activism in Ukraine and the world;
- Funding feminist projects through subgrants to grassroots womxn’s initiatives or individual activists;
- Networking, sharing knowledge, supporting each other, analysing common challenges and finding solutions;
- Advocating and promoting the needs and vision of the Ukrainian feminist movement internationally.
At the meeting, we established a connection with historical practices and discussed how we live and what we are currently oriented towards. We talked about needs, available resources, and limitations in our work. Together, we reinforced the guiding principles of our activities, which are rooted in the following:
- Self-care (as much as possible).
- Caring for the people around us.
- The importance of preserving our sensitivity.
- Building horizontal connections as a way to resist exploitation.
- Recognising our expertise.
- Acknowledging and embracing our strength and vulnerability.
The full-scale war imposed by Russia on Ukraine has highlighted the importance of unity and mutual support. We are grateful to all the fighters, partners, families, and friends of the Network’s participants for allowing us to continue working and promoting the interests of Ukraine, each from our place!
Many at this gathering found the long-awaited opportunity to exhale… And then take a deep breath to move forward shoulder-to-shoulder with like-minded individuals.
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