How a Creative Initiative Transforms the Experience of Loss into a Path to Unity and New Beginnings
The NGO “Time of the Free” began its activities in the village of Vilne, Khlibodarivska Community. From the beginning, the team supported women, children, youth, and the elderly, and in 2020 joined the Coalition 1325 Donetsk Region and joined the regional action plan to implement the Resolution “Women, Peace, Security”.
With the outbreak of a full-scale war, the activists were forced to move to the Poltava region, to the village of Koshmanivka. Here they resumed their activities, focusing on supporting displaced persons and adapting people from Donetsk Region. “We knew that we had to act,” says the head of the organization, Olena Konyushok. – All our efforts were aimed at helping people find a new home, feel supported and understand: Donetsk region is an integral part of Ukraine.”
The first significant initiative was the “Goal – to live” project, implemented in partnership with the public organization “Crimea SOS”. Ten concerts for displaced persons and local residents were held in seven settlements of Poltava region. Those concerts became platforms for people to meet, helped to destroy stereotypes about “Donetskians” and, conversely, allowed them to show their openness and strength.
An equally important step was the project “Free movement: dance as a symbol of freedom and support”. The team organized five dance groups in Koshmanivka, which united over 70 participants. Of particular pride is the collective of displaced persons from Donetsk and Kharkiv regions “Adult Girls”. For many participants, the classes became not only a physical activity, but also an important psychological support, an opportunity to communicate and restore internal resources. Here, women learn to enjoy every day, find support, new friends and girlfriends.
Today, “Time of the Free” continues to support displaced people, and especially displaced women, through cultural and educational programs, expands partnerships and contributes to the implementation of the regional action plan of Resolution 1325. The organization believes that women who have experienced loss and started life anew are capable of becoming true agents of change in their communities.
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