Ukraine’s revolution of 2014 saw its people coming together to fight for their future as a democratic society, calling on its leaders to implement the western values that would allow the country to deepen its ties with Europe and give rights to its citizens that had otherwise been denied up until that point. But there was one group for whom fundamental rights have been withheld that seem to have been forgotten during this fight. Amongst…
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The spirit of Maidan is far from over
A woman wrapped herself in the Ukrainian flag. She is part of a protest against Oligarchs that refuse to give up their positions of power. By Tanya Falenczyk On a weekend, Kiev really comes alive. People stroll along the main boulevard that is lined with street venders and musicians, stop for a break in one of the many cafés or move uphill, towards the park with the nicest view. Sounds like any European capital. Except…
Read MoreThe spring sun darkens the shadow of Babi Yar
One of the black metal crosses by the edge of the ravine The large Babi Yar Memorial Park in the north-west of Kiev is the site where thousands of people lost their lives in the second world war. Today it is a lively park. The park shows the contradiction of dealing with a grim history, while still looking forward. Joachim Jansen The unmistakable smell of salty meat on fire drifts through the trees in the…
Read MoreGetting fat on a crisis: Ukraine unfastens the Bible-Belt
By Bianca Benjamin Ukraine has a strong and enthusiastic Baptist community, whose humanitarian aid has been welcomed by the 1.4 million internal refugees in the country. As the amount of refugees continues to grow, the baptist church does too. People in crisis and churches looking to expand, have found each other with open arms.
Read MoreWatch this video of a girl playing the Bandura and discover the history behind it
Meet Olexandra Mukoed, the 15-year old bandura-player. Though overshadowed by its mesmerizing sound, the instrument has a long and grim history that had a profound effect on Ukraine’s national identity.
Read MoreUkraine’s western ambitions dealt blow as Dutch say ‘no’
Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in the heart of Kiev where mass protests during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 took place. By Aleisha Owen Since Ukraine’s 2014 revolution, a growing collection of young pro-Ukrainian voices have fostered a strong civil society that wants to see their country adopting more Western values as it slowly moves closer to Western Europe and the EU. However, an attempt to secure deeper economic ties with Europe was dealt a…
Read MoreStigma turns Odessa’s fight against AIDS into an undercover operation
A playground built for the children of HIV patients while those come in for treatment next door. The scope of discrimination in Ukraine forces some of those affected to keep their status hidden even from their closest family members. By Tanya Falenczyk The air is stiff in the small office. Four desks have been crammed into the room and all windows and doors are closed. It is the first warm day in Odessa, Europe’s…
Read MoreWhat is Ukraine? If schools don’t decide, pupils will
A hallway in School 200 Two years after the Maidan-revolution and a separatist conflict in the east have influenced the way Ukrainians think of themselves. That leads to the question whether this affects the younger generations. So, how do schools in Ukraine instill a sense of national identity in their students? By Joachim Jansen …“And which countries border Ukraine?” English teacher Natalya Guresz asks her class during a presentation. The school-day is almost over and the…
Read MoreGoing Slavic: Pagans choose Ancestors over the Ukraine Russian tug-o-war
Zoreslav and his wife, the founders of this small group of Pagans By Bianca Benjamin In Ukraine, the ancestral roots of the country are being explored in a rather offbeat way. Slavic Neo- paganism is enjoying a revamp countrywide, as people connect to nature, one another and their centuries old heritage. In Odessa, the gathering is small, yet those involved take their Sunday ritual seriously. Rather than focusing on the continuous question of Russian or…
Read MoreUkraine’s cost of living drives people away
Stores and stalls line the streets in the centre of Kyiv, where some of those hardest hit by the economic crisis come to work each day. By Aleisha Owen Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, has lost approximately one third of its value since 2014. The country’s political turmoil and the conflict in Ukraine’s East have contributed to an economic downtown that has left many struggling with everyday costs of living. These hardships, and frustration with…
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