Olena Konyushok and Svitlana Fomenko are sisters from the Volnovakha district who grew up in the small village of Vilne. Both graduated from Donetsk Pedagogical College and later returned to their home village. Olena began working as the head of the Department of Culture, Tourism, Youth, and Sports for the Khlibodarivska community, while Svitlana took the helm of the Vilne Village House of Culture.
Before the full-scale invasion, the sisters worked together to develop their community’s cultural life, implemented grants, organized events, and founded the public organization “Time of the Free” (an association of young people from Donetsk Oblast to support children, women, IDPs, and vulnerable groups).
In March 2022, the sisters and their families left their home village and now live in the village of Soniachne in the Kolomatska community, while actively working in the village of Koshmanivka in the Mashivska community in Poltava Oblast.
Their story is told by the online publication “Tribun.”
They have not only settled into their new lives but have also become a focal point for locals and displaced persons, actively engaging in volunteer work and community activities, turning their forced relocation into new opportunities.
In the village of Koshmanivka, near Poltava, the sisters have started five dance groups, a vocal ensemble, and a fitness group from scratch. And all of this is for the local people, who turned out to be very open to new things.
“Koshmanivka is a village of about two thousand residents: it has a large school, a kindergarten, a pharmacy, a supermarket, and a good road to Poltava. But the dance scene here wasn’t developed at all—this niche simply didn’t exist,” says Olena. “We started with a teen group; later, moms with young children joined, and then they wanted to dance themselves. So we gradually grew to five groups. That’s nearly 80 participants ranging in age from three to 60. We also created the vocal ensemble “Syaivo”—it’s 12 women (displaced persons and locals) who sing together.”
Both Olena and Svitlana note that they never thought dancing would become their main activity, because before the full-scale invasion, they had completely different priorities.
Thanks to grant funds, support from parents, entrepreneurs, and several communities, a youth space has been established in Koshmanivka.
Once every two months, the sisters hold charity concerts, perform for displaced persons, and organize events and online meetings with military personnel.
In celebration of International Dance Day in April, a showcase concert was held in Koshmanivka, featuring the best dances of the year as well as new productions. There wasn’t a single empty seat in the hall.
Despite their main jobs and very active cultural life, the sisters’ daily lives are also busy. They grow vegetables and run a farm. And in the evenings, the whole family gathers to share news and support one another. They have already purchased a home in Koshmanivka, are gradually renovating it, and plan to move there in six months with four generations of the family, because it is important for them to stay together and not be separated.
The Ukrainian people are strong and unyielding!
Together to Victory!