I don’t like changes. I find it very hard to leave behind
people, memories, things that you shared with dear ones at some point in time.
I think I very well represent the cliché that one leaves part of his heart when
leaving. I cannot forget. And I don’t want to.
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| the three Vostok-SOS volunteers at Ivana Kupala near Severodonetsk |
The Donbas was a revealing, unforgettable experience for me.
Apart from the wonderful people that I met and I’ve worked with, who inspired
me and encouraged me whenever I needed it, this place must be my-kind-of-place.
Since the times of Katherine the Second, people from different regions and
countries arrived either to populate the empty lands for agricultural purposes,
or being sent here for isolation reasons. The result is a young-like society,
where people are not afraid to say what they think, and many elderly
people are able and more than willing to go out of their comfort zone and have fun.
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| part of the fun team after a workshop in Rubizhne |
Severodonetsk has revealed to me slowly, from the grey days
of January, with almost no one on the streets and temperatures around -10
degrees Celsius to the glowing days of summer, when everybody goes to one of
the numerous lakes in the area for a shashlyk and beer with family and friends.
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| during an English class for children |
All of the projects I’ve engaged in here are special to me,
but among them I have to first mention the Active picnics. Nature is always a
good friend and an awesome excuse for us all to follow suit. This is why I couldn’t
wait for the good weather and I tried to stick to the outdoors environment for
my lessons whenever it’s been possible. And the energy jumps out of the Active
picnics’ photos. This is just one of the projects I’ve been implementing with
Sasha (Voroshilova) and which provided me with the opportunity to meet
wonderful youngsters in Severodonetsk’
parks and talk about different things, play a lot of games with them and
listen to their interests and dreams and… be overwhelmed by the whole thing.
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| Interview for a local radio during the active picnic |
The children are sparkling of curiosity and big dreams. Some
would use any chance to ask about our [the volunteers’] countries and opinions
about Ukraine, the conflict situation or other serious issues. They are eager
to learn, open to engage in new activities and grow. I’m thus sure that their
determination will one day bear fruit, making Ukraine known for what it is, a
country of huge potential.
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| during my last active picnic |
I’ve met very different people with sometimes opposing
opinions and I admit I’ve tried to test limits. But the adults who attended my
English classes or the film club focused on human rights have made it too easy
for me; every time we would discuss a hot topic, such as political
incorrectness, black humor, human rights in conflict, discrimination, war or
the communist past, people - of very different ages - respected the others and
engaged in it admirably, however difficult.
I’ve also met many activists for diverse social and
political issues, who are no different in their convictions from those residing
in the EU, but they could be a little stronger in terms of resilience. I will never forget
the House of Human Rights in Chernihiv, where I went for one of Vostok-SOS
& Mondo’s projects and I had my first lecture in Russian ever (and I couldn’t
have been more scared). This is an open house for initiatives that matter and all
sorts of activists, a network linked also to countries in the region.
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| during an English class for beginners |
Here I tried several things that I’ve always dreamt of
doing, such as teaching in high schools and working on human rights in a
creative way, organizing debates, educative games and so on. At every step, my
lovely colleagues were there for me as much as I tried – at least – to be there
for them. So I’d like to use this opportunity to thank them again for
everything!
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| a part of the Severodonetsk team |
How can I leave this place?... I was talking with a friend,
who at some point told me with unhidden jealousy “and you are paid to do that?!”
and I thought “well that’s that”. One for sure needs full energy and
flexibility for this journey, but it’s definitely worth it.
