A VISIT TO UKRAINE – A VISIT OF THE HEART
It finally happened: A very long-awaited trip to Ukraine.
For the past five years, each year, Mrs.Tatiana Kotseba, the President of WFWP in Ukraine had been inviting me to speak at their annual WFWP anniversary conference; and every single year, I couldn’t go for one reason or another.
At last, this year, the stars were aligned, and I made my way to Kiev, arriving on April 26, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Chernobyl incident. It turned out to be the perfect time to visit Ukraine, as most of the country was in the full bloom of springtime, and was celebrating Orthodox Easter Week and Easter Sunday.
A small delegation of WFWP leaders welcomed me at the Kiev airport with a bouquet of roses, and brought me to our beautiful quarters a bit outside of the city of Kiev--or Kyiv in Ukrainian.
The next day, April 27, WFWP Ukraine held an educational roundtable event in collaboration with City Hall. Thirty-five women leaders and CEO's gathered around a very long conference table at City Hall, to share and discuss the topic of "Women, Peace, and Security." It was the fourth roundtable discussion of its kind, and included international representatives of WFWP from the USA, Japan, the United Kingdom, Belarus, and Austria.
Round-table at City Hall
In my 10-minute presentation, which was translated paragraph by paragraph, I highlighted the 1325 UN resolution that states that it is beneficial to have women at the negotiation table in matters of war; since they gave birth to and will lose those who are fighting each other. I also compared the relationship between men and women in the US which is on a more equal footing, more like a team, when compared with the traditional one in Ukraine. Notwithstanding, however, the additional fact that in the US the healthy family unit is falling apart and gender confusion is on the rise.
Other presentations talked about the issue of women still not having a voice in decision-making in Ukraine, and being the ones who always need to carry the results of war, poverty, and with little or no support. One presenter especially “unloaded her heart on this issue,” and I could feel the deep pain that Ukrainian women feel, waiting and hoping for “liberation.”
WFWP President Tatiana then highlighted WFWP’s vision and focus on strengthening the family as the “School of Love and Peace.” She pointed out that the family in Ukraine has also undergone many changes and is no longer the stronghold of society that it used to be.
A lot of the weakening of the family has to do with the ongoing wars and fights for independence that Ukraine has been involved in over the years under Communism. The women in Ukraine have for decades had to fend for themselves and their children, since their men went either to war or were involved in other independence-driven, dangerous activities where they lost their lives. As always the women and mothers have had to deal with their children, without support and living in poverty as a result.
Unfortunately, it is clear that the Ukrainian traditional culture is very much intact, which means that women still don’t have much of a voice; yet I experienced that internally they are very strong and have very deep hearts.
The highlight of the visit was the 9th National Anniversary Conference of WFWP in Ukraine, which took place the following day, on April 28, at one of the largest Universities in Ukraine, the Kiev University of Borys Grinchenka. The conference brought together around 500 women and also men from different parts of the country.
Among them were representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defense, city administrators, public organizations, embassies, Universities rectors, school principals and teachers, artists, scientists, and many other dignitaries and women leaders.
Anna Kalmatskaya, WFWP Secretary-General, described the event briefly, as follows:
“Prior to the event a national TV channel interviewed [WFWP] USA President and International Vice-President, Angelika Selle, Ukrainian WFWP President Tatiana Kotseba as well as famous Ukrainian woman artist. In addition, two All-Ukrainian and three local newspapers highlighted the event.
“One hour before the conference, special guests and international representatives partook in a tea reception in a special VIP room, while others enjoyed the music of the military Lyceum orchestra, which was playing outside the building and attracted many onlookers.
“The conference began with a WFWP video report, welcoming words from the Vice-Director of Grinchenka University and also from a vice-chairman of children’s rights department of the Ministry of Social Policy. Mrs. Angelika Selle – WFWP USA president and Mrs. Tina Coombs, member of the European WFWP board, spoke on behalf of WFWP International and WFWP Europe. President of WFWP Ukraine Mrs. Tatiana Kotseba based her speech on the Founder’s words, emphasizing the importance of family, centered on universal values.”
My 20-minute presentation covered the main topic: “What are Universal Values, and why we need them to achieve global peace and harmony.” I highlighted three values, which also reflect the values of our organization and are important for leadership of peace:
Integrity
Living for the Sake of Others
Service
When practiced, these values have the potential to create a plateau for real change for the better in both of our nations.
A very strong focus of festivities was the award-giving ceremony which honored and highlighted ordinary women who had accomplished extraordinary things, as well as women leaders who have made great impact in their field of influence.
Among the awardees was the mother of a Ukrainian pilot hero, Nadiya Savchenko, who received the “Woman-Patriot Mother” award; an 81-year-old world legend of gymnastics, Mrs. Albina Deriugina became “Woman Coach Nominee;” and the head of the biggest All-Ukrainian charity foundation on IDP (internally displaced persons) issues received the “Woman Public Figure” award. Seven other wonderful ladies became “Woman-veterans”, “Woman-journalist”, “Woman-teacher”, “Woman-mother of many children”, “Woman-doctor”, and the “Woman-artist” honorees. The conference also included award winners of the children's literature competition entitled: “My mother is the best”, initiated by WFWP Ukraine.
The award ceremonies and speeches were interspersed with lively Ukrainian music, performed by dance group and a group of Kazaks.
In spite of the language barrier (I don’t speak or understand Ukrainian), I felt a natural and strong affinity with the Ukrainian women and mothers, whose deep hearts, souls, and inner strength were exuding from them.
Seeds of love and connection were sown through these moments of sharing, as well as later when leaders of WFWP met together and shared about each other’s vision, goals, and ways of working.
It was a very fruitful cross pollination, and all committed to building on this new-found friendship. Heart to heart connections were established on many levels; even after the events, when our international delegation had the opportunity to go sightseeing and visit historic and beautiful sites that reminded us of the deep spiritual but also painful history of Kiev and Ukraine. On Easter Sunday the city was enveloped not only in beautiful sunshine, but there was an atmosphere of holiness and joy everywhere.
Traditional Easter bread that had been baked the night before and was sanctified by the priest in the early morning hours, was shared everywhere in the homes and in the restaurants for free, as well as colorfully painted and decorated Easter eggs.
We ended our visit with an Easter dinner, enjoying Ukrainian borscht and other tasty dishes. Most of all we all felt we had become closer in heart as friends and distant family, and committed to stay in touch and in good collaboration for our common goals.
After all I thought; the U-nited States and U-kraine, both begin with the letter “U;” and if we put the two together, we have a “W,” a “We.” So, together, WE can do it!
