As part of the project to preserve the cultural code and local identity of Donetsk region – the project "East at Touch" – two dialogue meetings "Identity of Donetsk region – memory, experience, future" took place.
The events took place in Dnipro and Poltava and brought together more than 30 participants: internally displaced persons, representatives of communities in Donetsk Oblast, and anyone who wants to maintain ties with their homeland. The meetings were held at the IDP Support Centers of the Kramatorsk district in the cities of Dnipro and Poltava.
In Dnipro, the event was hosted by Olena Milianovska, head of the "East at Touch" project and head of the humanitarian department of the Kramatorsk district state administration's local government relations office. During the discussion, emphasis was placed on the importance of preserving local heritage, traditions, and family histories, even when forced to live far from home.
In Poltava, the meeting was moderated by Inna Eismont, coordinator of the IDP Support Center in the Kramatorsk district. Participants discussed preserving cultural identity, supporting displaced communities, and ways to maintain ties with their homeland while living in other cities.
Among the key topics discussed during both meetings were the preservation of Donetsk region's cultural memory, rethinking the experience of resettlement, forming a common narrative about the native land, and the role of women in transmitting traditions and shaping cultural codes. Special attention was paid to familiarizing participants with the proposed candidates for the memorabilia—a future collection of stories, images, and symbols that will reflect the female face of Donetsk region.
The meetings became an important platform for exchanging experiences, mutual support, and forming a common vision of the future. Together, the participants created a space that helps preserve cultural identity and strengthens a sense of community, wherever the women and men of Donetsk region may be.
The event was held as part of the SMARTA NGO project "Ambassadors of Peaceful Change" with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). However, this does not mean that the views and content expressed during the event are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.
The UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is a flexible and responsive funding instrument that supports high-quality activities to enhance the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.
Based on materials from the Kramatorsk District State Administration