On October 27, Ukrainian Literacy and Language Day, the Mangush community held an online literary event titled “Your Only Treasure Is Your Native Language” as part of the nationwide project “Side by Side: United Communities.”
The event brought together representatives of partner communities, amateur poets, librarians, and everyone for whom the Ukrainian language is an integral part of culture, creativity, and spiritual life.
A special part of the program was the poetry relay. Representatives from the Chyhyryn, Mykolaiv, and Kalchyk communities, poet Nadiya Umrysh from Mariupol, Nadiya Terentyeva, a resident of the village of Yalta in the Mangush community, and other participants shared their creative works, reflections, and stories.
Each performance had its own mood and story. The poetic lines echoed with memories of their homeland, reflections on the present, love for Ukraine, and hope for the future. Participants spoke about what inspires their creativity and how poetry helps them express feelings for which it is sometimes difficult to find the right words.
Special attention was given to the cultural heritage of the Azov region, particularly the traditions of the Greeks of the Nadazovye—the Rumey and the Urum. After all, the history of the Mangush community was shaped at the intersection of cultures, languages, and traditions, which remain an important part of our shared memory to this day.
This gathering provided yet another opportunity to realize that creativity knows no boundaries. Even when we’re in different corners of Ukraine, we can hear one another, share our stories, preserve cultural traditions, and discover new talents.
This is precisely one of the most important values of the “Side by Side: United Communities” project—to create opportunities for meaningful communication, mutual support, and joint initiatives that continue to bring people together.
Based on materials from the Mangush Town Military Administration