As part of the national project “Side by Side: United Communities,” cooperation continues between educators from the Soledar City Community in Donetsk Oblast and the Drohobych City Community in Lviv Oblast.
To mark Ukrainian Literacy and Language Day, a patriotic online event titled “Language—Our Genetic Code” was held, bringing together educators, young people, and representatives of both communities around a shared love for their native language and common national values.
The event began with opening remarks and the singing of the National Anthem of Ukraine. Those present observed a moment of silence to honor the fallen defenders of Ukraine who gave their lives for the freedom, independence, and future of our country.
During the interactive session “The Word That Unites Us,” participants shared words they associate with Ukraine. A shared word cloud emerged, featuring concepts that reflect our common values: home, family, freedom, love, memory, hope, resilience, and language. This activity demonstrated how the Ukrainian language unites people around shared values.
The educational portion of the event continued with a presentation titled “The Ukrainian Language in Facts and Figures,” which revealed fascinating aspects of the history and characteristics of our native language. A special part of the program was a linguistic journey through the Soledar and Drohobych communities. Community representatives spoke about the words, expressions, and linguistic features of their native region that preserve its cultural identity.
Everyone who wanted to test their knowledge and attention span had the chance to do so during the “Guess the Word” interactive activity, in which participants had to reconstruct words with missing letters. A poetry flash mob featuring the Youth Council of the Soledar City Council served as a reminder of the beauty, melodiousness, and spiritual power of the Ukrainian language.
This joint online meeting marked another step toward strengthening the partnership between the Soledar and Drohobych communities, affirming Ukrainian national values, and preserving our linguistic heritage. The event concluded with words of gratitude to everyone who participated and congratulations on Ukrainian Writing and Language Day.
Let us cherish our native language, nurture it every day, and pass it on to future generations! After all, the Ukrainian word is our history, our cultural heritage, and our spiritual strength—it unites us and helps us preserve our national identity.
Based on materials from the Soledar City Military Administration