Cultural centre in Kropyvnytskyi provides support for Armed Forces of Ukraine
I’m lucky enough to have been in Ukraine during the holidays in December 2017 and January 2018, spending time in the Carpathian Mountains, being invited to an intimate celebration in a village, hearing and watching ples in Kryvorivnya, taking part in Malanka fun, and creating some of my own celebrations.
Aelita collects money, supplies, and equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Photo from Facebook.
The holidays look a lot different in Ukraine this year due to russia’s full-scale invasion, a war that has separated families, destroyed power infrastructure in Ukraine, resulting in water, heat, and electricity cutoffs, and killed thousands.
My Christmas and New Year wish is for russia’s invasion to end, though I know simply saying that won’t make it come true. Until russia’s war ends, until Ukraine has rebuilt itself, I will continue doing what I can to support the country.
Today I donated $997, money I raised thanks to you and your support of Planted, to Come Back Alive. A few generous people gave extra, allowing me to donate more than my $750 goal.
The next place Planted proceeds will support is the Educational Cultural and Art Center Aelita in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine. This organization has been raising money and collecting food, hygiene products, first aid kits, and other supplies for people in Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
My connection to Aelita
Vasyl Bosyy was a legendary Ukrainian dance choreographer and instructor with a brilliant mind.
In June 2018, at the end of my 10-month yearlong immersion program in Ukraine, I joined a two-week Ukrainian dance workshop tour that picked me and my friends up in Poltava and brought us to a couple places we didn’t have the chance to go to yet. One of these places was Kropyvnytskyi, the city some people say Ukrainian stage dance originated.
We did a workshop with a local dance company, getting to work with the legendary choreographer and instructor Vasyl Bosyy. Pan Bosyy sadly passed away in September, and while I spent only a short time with him, his energy and enthusiasm and love of Ukrainian culture is something I will never forget. I could see how everyone around him looked up to him, and thanks to his contributions to the community, the celebration of Ukrainian dance will continue on for generations.
Someone else we met while in Kropyvnytskyi was Alexandra Tkachenko, who showed us around and also was involved with the dance community in Kropyvnytskyi. Alexandra is the director of Aelita Choreography Art Studio, which has become a hub for volunteers since the start of the full-scale war, and she founded the NGO Educational Cultural and Art Center Aelita to further volunteer efforts.
Aelita volunteers have woven camouflage nets for the military. Photo from Facebook.
About Educational Cultural and Art Center Aelita
Here’s a brief overview of what Aelita does:
Collect, purchase, and deliver humanitarian aid, medicine, and supplies to the frontlines;
Weave and deliver camouflage nets;
Prepare quick-cooking food for the military;
Sew tactical equipment;
Provide humanitarian aid to displaced families;
Organize performances at charity events and in hospitals; and
Contribute donations to major purchases for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, like vehicles and generators (Alexandra said Aelita is currently raising money for a generator in Bakhmut in Donetsk).
Alexandra posts photos on Facebook of all of Aelita’s efforts, which is hard to summarize in just a few bullet points. In the photos, you’ll see that children help out too, like with weaving nets, creating artwork, or performing. I also saw posts showing how at the start of the full-scale war, Aelita offered online dance classes, since people weren’t able to gather, to add a bit of normalcy to the kids’ lives.
It’s inspiring to see all the work Aelita is doing, how so many people are coming together to help out in any way they can, and I’m proud to get to support Aelita thanks to people’s support of Planted.
“Volunteering is about people, volunteering is about goodness, volunteering is about love for Ukraine and unwavering faith in victory,” Alexandra wrote on Facebook. “It is already a way of life, it is especially a worldview, and it is what fills and gives a crazy motivation to live.
“Thank you to everyone involved in such a special philosophy of volunteering! We can do everything and much more! Everyone who is in my photos and who is not (but there are millions of us) — you are all an extraordinary, fantastic force. Let’s get closer to victory together!”
Alexandra Tkachenko founded the NGO Educational Cultural and Art Center Aelita that provides aid throughout Ukraine. Photo from Facebook.
Where to Purchase Planted
To support Educational Cultural and Art Center Aelita’s work by purchasing Planted, fill out this form.
Once you send me the requested information, I’ll email you the total, and you can send me an e-transfer. If you’re picking up the book, I’ll give you some time options of when to come by.
The book is $25 with free Winnipeg pickup. Shipping to Canada is $4 per book, and shipping to the U.S. is $6 per book (for shipping outside Canada and the U.S., send me an email, and I’ll find out the cost — it’s usually around $12 per book). If you’re outside Canada, you can pay by credit card here.
The ebook is also available for your Kobo or Kindle.
Thank you for your support. Slava Ukraini! Heroyam slava! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!