As women transform the culture, economy and policy in the regions

« All the major changes in the country should begin in synergy – from above and below. Therefore, we need to talk about the role of women not only at the national level, but also at the regional, » says Olena Kondratyuk, a co -founder of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress, VesEsPicler of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

She is convinced that women’s involvement today is changing the landscape of Ukrainian politics, economics and social life on the ground. It is not a symbolic presence, but about real influence, responsibility and trust.

How women change their communities on the ground and affect the culture, economy, restoration of regions, told participants of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress in Cherkasy. The conversation recorded « UP. Life ».

As women’s leadership changes communities

During a full -scale war and in the post -war recovery, women often act as the driving force of transformations in communities.

The First Deputy Minister of Community Development Alona Shkrum stressed that according to statistics, a community with a larger part of female deputies submit more renewal projects and receive funding more often.

« We have 3 areas today where there are more than 50% of women at the level of rural and settlement communities. These are Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathian and Zaporizhzhya regions. And those communities where more than 60-70% of money for recovery are more than 60-70%– says Shkrum.

Sofia Khodyuk, the deputy chairman of the Kuyalnitsky community, told how women in her community did not expect centralized decisions, but initiated the restoration plan independently, identified priorities: small business development, energy efficiency, security. With the assistance of the UNDP program in her community, they developed a restoration plan and subsequently got into ten pilot communities that received assistance.

Equally important is the creation of support environments for women who have lost their loved ones or returned from the war. In Cherkasy, according to the deputy mayor of Marina Garkavaya, the largest crisis center for combating gender violence was opened in Ukraine. Also in the city is built a third shelter for IDPs, there are various humanitarian programs, there are « women’s clubs ».

”At the request of the wives of servicemen, it is planned to open the club program « My Prayer – Your Armor », where women will find support. I know exactly – without unity we will not be able to talk about recovery, only it will keep us« , – the deputy mayor of Cherkasy.

Entrepreneurs, farmers, change managers: how women’s economic activity affects communities

The economic activity of women is not only about survival in war, but about a systematic change in roles, about leadership and new models of interaction, the participants of the discussion on the economic strength of women during the Ukrainian Women’s Congress are convinced. During the discussion, they presented a number of examples as underwidth women, farmers and financiers form a new country’s economy.

Svetlana Garashchenko, a coordinator of the support for women-under-enforcement program « Grow », focused on the importance of creating women’s economic communities.

« In addition to the desire to know something new, women have a serious request for collaboration, which became an additional unexpected result. The participants of the program began to cooperate. For example, the girls who are engaged in textiles were made from the remains of fabricShe said.

Valentina Onishchenko, the head of the Cherkasy branch of the Savings Bank, spoke about the importance of access to financial resources. She noted that the share of women in business in Cherkasy region – 26%. The industries where women are most present are wholesale, real estate operations, education, processing industry, food establishments.

”Women are afraid to take loans, are afraid to scale. And our goal is to show: it is possible and accessible. We offer programs where part of the interest is compensated by the state. Therefore, I urge women not to be afraid to take loans, to use grants. This is real what can be enhanced« , – she stressed.

Margarita Kozachenko’s farmer during Congress told how she started her own business during the war: « We had products, as well as a lot of difficulty with its delivery. I went to courses, got the driver’s license for a truck, and then to a tractor. Now I lead the order, I manage the farm herself« .

Svetlana Kohan, the head of the operative-dispatching center of the distributive power grids of JSC DTEK DTEK Donetsk Electricity Nettle Networks, emphasized that the industries that were traditionally considered « male », open to those who have knowledge and responsibility.

”Energy is an industry where you do not matter who you are – a man or a woman, because the main thing is competence and responsibility. In the energy of women not just work, they form the future, control processes, make important decisions« , – she said.

Save the language, memory and meanings: how women change the idea of ​​culture in communities

National identity, language and culture are not only about inheritance, but also about resistance. This is how the speakers of the discussion panel « preserving national identity » are considered.

During the discussion, Galina Grigorenko, the First Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy, emphasized that culture is another field for security to strengthen our identity. According to her, the state has already adopted a strategy for the development of culture by 2030, and on its basis – a rethinking of the role of cultural institutions.

Grigorenko also stressed that many proposals for this strategy came from women – art, libraries, and cultural centers. They know the needs of the community and work on the ground, so the state must support their autonomy and initiative.

Language Ombudsman Taras Kremin noted that women were the most active in the implementation of language policy on the ground.

”In each region, each community has language courses. The vast majority of those who have assumed volunteering in the organization of free language courses at libraries, at educational institutions, culture are women. By the way, mostly participants in these clubs are both local residents, women, and internally displaced persons who are able to be in such language courses, to communicate – this is one of the possibilities of practical implementation of their certain practical knowledge, and they are extremely important« , – Kremin says.

In addition, the congress was performed by the stories of women who create new cultural formats in war. Yulia Kapshuchenko spoke about « She.Fest », which became a place of memory, self -identification and support.

”As early as 2022, we released a Festival T -shirt that did not take place, depicting Shevchenko’s monument in Borodyanka with a shot head, but not conquered. We, of course, sent the proceeds for victory. After 2023, the festival raises funds for the Armed Forces« , – said Yulia Kapshuchenko.

Marina Dyachenko, the founder of Morris-Space Artpress, spoke about more than 220 events made in Cherkasy region since 2023. According to her, the mission of space – to influence the change of consciousness of the individual, the formation of national consciousness, to restore respect for people of art, culture, science.

Why is women’s leadership in the regions the strategic advantage of Ukraine?

The support of women in Ukraine goes far beyond the national summons. The international community recognizes that women’s leadership is one of the key conditions for effective reconstruction, community resilience and the democratic future of the country.

”In Ukraine, local level is the basis of the state, so it is so important for women in regions not to be afraid to show their stability and help each other, showing examples of women’s leadership« , – said Natalka CMOC, Mrs. Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, during her speech.

Ms. Ambassador Canada Natalka Cmoz urged women in the regions not to be afraid to show leadership

Photo: Ukrainian Women’s Congress

She also stressed that it is extremely important to formalize the presence of women in peace talks and post -war reconstruction:

”This gives Ukraine a strategic advantage. Ukraine’s devotion to human rights, democratic values ​​and international law contrasts sharply with the documented anti -gender position« .

Katarina Marynova, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, emphasized the role of decentralization in the formation of powerful women’s leadership on the ground.

”No matter where I go, I hear that the reason why Ukraine was able to withstand at the beginning is due to activism and leadership that was created through decentralization reform in different communities« , – said Katarina Marynova.

The EU, she said, has already invested more than 150 million euros in support of civil society, including women’s organizations. In addition, 6 million euros are envisaged to strengthen the role of women, assistance to vulnerable groups and the implementation of women’s leadership projects.

Sabin Frazer Gunesh, a UN representative of a woman in Ukraine, in her speech focused on risks for women’s organizations due to the reduction of donor funding.

”Of the hundred interviewed women’s organizations, five have already stopped, 35 more can stop it within half a year, unless other sources of funding be found. We are also in a very difficult political situation and countries that have previously maintained gender equality in the UN and at the international level, no longer do it and actually create obstacles« , – said Sabin Fraser Gunesh.

But according to Ms Sabin, only two weeks ago, the UN member states stated that they would continue to maintain gender equality by signing a political declaration.

”So you all have to feel support and inspiration to continue the work you do as resistance to full -scale Russian aggression, as well as in preparation for the restoration of the country« , – added Ms. Sabin.

She also emphasized the importance of gender responsible budget planning and called on Ukrainian institutions not to neglect this tool.

”We are convinced that budgeting will help women access to their rights and services. And, accordingly, the new budget law for the whole country states that all institutions should use gender -responsible budgeting. Therefore, despite the fact that the budget is very difficult and most of the funds need to be directed to security, a gender -responsible analysis of the budget should still be conducted.« , – she said.