Razom Congratulates Ukrainian Films in the Running for the 2024 Oscars

Published: December 22, 2023   

Razom Congratulates Ukrainian Films in the Running for the 2024 Oscars

 

December 21st brought us the long awaited news of shortlisted films for the 2024 Oscars (Academy Awards). Razom is celebrating the incredible accomplishments of every Ukrainian story that became a contender for an Oscar, and those that went on to fill up the slots on the shortlist for the award. Over the years, Razom Cinema has supported films that amplify Ukrainian voices and center stories from Ukraine, and this year we congratulate all of our filmmakers not only on this accomplishment, but also for the impactful work that led to this point. 

SHORTLISTED FILMS

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL

Trailer: 20 Days In Mariupol (trailer) | FRONTLINE

Synopsis: An AP team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting atrocities of the Russian invasion. As the only international reporters who remain in the city, they capture what later become defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital, and more. (20daysinmariupol.com)

 

“20 Days in Mariupol” is shortlisted for the Documentary Feature category as well as the International Feature category, where it represents Ukraine. Razom, along with other partners, has supported the film during its U.S. theatrical release, as well as helping bring the documentary to various communities around the U.S. This film is currently available to watch online (U.S. territory) on YouTube as well as PBS Frontline. 

IN THE REARVIEW

Trailer: IN THE REARVIEW Trailer | TIFF 2023

Synopsis: In the Rearview is an authentic, intimate observation of war as it unfolds, following multiple generations of Ukrainian civilians as they abruptly abandon their homes and rely on the help of director Maciek Hamela’s volunteer aid van to escape the life-threatening conflict. As he steers through minefields to leave Ukraine and tries to get through numerous military checkpoints, Hamela offers us a seat in his car, guiding the documentary from behind the wheel and behind the camera, crisscrossing the roads of Ukraine to transport uprooted refugees safely to Poland. The van traverses tens of thousands of kilometers and serves as a waiting room, hospital, shelter, and zone for confidences and confessions among compatriots thrown together by chance. (intherearview.eu)

 

“In the Rearview” is shortlisted for the Documentary Feature category. Razom provided a grant to the film team in order to support their screenings in key cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, which were part of the Oscar campaign. Keep an eye out for more screenings in the new year!

OSCAR 2024 QUALIFIERS FROM RAZOM CINEMA

A RISING FURY

Trailer: “A Rising Fury” | Trailer | Stockholm International Film Festival 2022

Synopsis: “A RISING FURY” follows two hopeful Ukrainian idealists from the peaceful protest in Kyiv in 2013 to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pavlo and Svitlana met and fell in love at the Maidan Revolution and were filmed nearly 10 years with several expeditions to the frontlines of the war. When Russia invaded Crimea and Donbas in 2014, Pavlo lost his family home and joined the Ukrainian military effort. To defend his nation, he engages in deadly firefights against former friends and a close military instructor who join Russian forces. As Svitlana transports food and medical supplies, both find themselves on the battle lines, protecting their land, democracy, and their relationship. This film reveals the true untold story of how the Russo-Ukrainian war began nearly 10 years ago. (arisingfury.com)

 

“A Rising Fury” recently had an incredible US theatrical release in NYC (watch a conversation between director Lesya Kalynska and Professor Timothy Snyder). This came after their successful festival run that started from Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. Razom is proud to have supported the making of this vital film that shines light and provides insight into the beginning of this nearly ten-year war while following the heroic journey of Pavlo.

SUNFLOWER FIELD

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/882754612

Synopsis: Under the shadowy threat of war, a young Ukrainian girl awaits a call from her father. As she waits, the day turns into night and she sinks into various dreamscapes from which she must find her way home. 

 

“Sunflower Field” just recently wrapped its festival journey – taking home the award for Best Short Animation from Oscar-qualifying Woodstock Film Festival. Razom provided support with community engagement where the filmmaker was also able to connect with several Ukrainian schools in different states to not only screen the animation, but also engage with Ukrainian children by inviting them to become part of the animation.

Make sure to follow our newsletter and social media for more announcements on how to catch these films and more! In the meantime, we urge you to connect with your local theaters, art institutions, and other locations where you could potentially host a screening of one of these films (or reach out if you’re looking for more). Together, we can prove to cultural programmers that Ukrainian stories are necessary and that there is a large audience ready for them.


Дивимось Українське Разом!

Razom Culture 

Generous Healthcare Donations Illuminate the Spirit of Giving

Published: December 20, 2023   

The holiday season brings a spirit of compassion and giving. Two major donations recently accepted by Razom Health illuminate this spirit and the positive impact created by our partnerships. The contributions from Dr. Rocco Armonda, and Partners for World Health brought much-anticipated medical supplies to assist healthcare efforts in Ukraine. The commitment and generosity demonstrated by these donors is commendable, and their contributions will undoubtedly help alleviate the stress on Ukraine’s health system.

Razom Health expresses heartfelt gratitude for the impactful gift from Dr. Rocco Armonda, which arrived at Dnipro Mechnikov Hospital:  four pallets of neurosurgical supplies. This valuable donation is crucial to the dedicated doctors, who heroically save lives every day. The delivery is Dr. Armonda’s twelfth shipment since the full-scale invasion began, bringing the total to 29 pallets, weighing over 5,000 kilograms, with a value exceeding 4 million USD. Razom Health is grateful for Dr. Armonda’s continued support over the past two years, contributing significantly to our cause.

A long-awaited container of medical supplies from Partners for World Health (PWH) has arrived in Ukraine, marking the first time Razom Health has navigated a new tracking system required by the Ukrainian government. This donation from PWH is the fourth in the past two years, a testament to the organization’s stalwart commitment to support healthcare efforts in Ukraine. With a total weight of 22,000 pounds, the 40-foot container boasts an entire emergency hospital’s worth of supplies, a treasure trove of high-quality medical equipment and supplies including hospital beds, stretchers, defibrillators, ultrasound machines, and various essential medical consumables. We are truly grateful for the tireless efforts of PWH donors and volunteers to ensure that these vital resources reach those in need.

Once again, Razom Health would like to express our appreciation for all of these partnerships and substantial contributions. As we celebrate the season of giving, these transformative healthcare donations serve as inspiring reminders of the impact that partnerships like these have on communities in need. The stalwart support from  Dr. Rocco Armonda and Partners for World Health embodies the true spirit of the holidays, offering hope, healing, and a brighter future for Ukraine. 

Razom says Dyakuyu!

Thank you to our esteemed partners and individuals for their invaluable support: Institutional Support – Duke University Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Neurosurgery, Miami University Hospital Neurosurgery, Balt Corporation, Doro, NeuroOptics (Pupillometry), Longevity (Cranial Implants), Neurovascular Divisions for Medtronic, Stryker, and Microventions, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Jackson Foundation, Mizuho Microsurgical Sugita Aneurysm Clips, Raumedic Neuromonitoring, Baxter Hemostatics. 

Special Recognition to – Ivan Bezkoravanny, Heidi Armonda, Michelle Armonda, Dr. Mario Golokovsky, Dr. Catherine Reilly and Family, Jeremy Kaczaniuk, Steve Brown, Dr. Gerry Grant (Chairman of Duke Neurosurgery), Dr. Rober H. Rossenwasser (Chairman of Neurosurgery Thomas Jefferson University), Dr. Maxim Shapiro (NYU NeuroIR), Alex Razmovsky (PhD), Ken Green (DDS).

We invite you to learn more and support Razom’s Health Program!

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Empowering Tomorrow’s (and Today’s) Leaders: A Recap of Our Ukraine on Campus Stipend Program at ASEEES 2023

Published: December 15, 2023   

Against the backdrop of academia,  in particular, Slavic and Eastern European Studies reckoning with the need to decolonize and decenter Russian narratives in higher education, Razom’s Ukraine on Campus stipend program helped bring  five students  to the 55th annual convention of the Association for Slavic, East European, & Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) in Philadelphia, from November 30 – December 3. The selected students came from different backgrounds, academic concentrations, and connections to Ukraine, but each leveraged their attendance at the Convention to bring new energy and ideas to efforts around progressing the study of Ukraine and creating sustainable opportunities for engaging with Ukraine across U.S. university campuses. 

 

In addition to stipends, Ukraine on Campus created spaces where attendees could build community, find overlap in their work, and coordinate ways in which they can collaborate in their studies and academic careers. On top of the extensive ASEEES schedule, the project hosted a number of Ukraine on Campus engagements and promoted specific segments of the ASEEES program to help give stipend recipients, local students, and interested academics the opportunity to connect as they take on decolonizing their fields and championing the study of Ukraine.

Decolonizing the Academic Landscape: Ukraine at ASEEES

 

The ASEEES Convention provided a platform for 37 academics, researchers, and professors from Ukrainian institutions to present their work. Many other academics from around the United States and the world also attended to discuss their research on Ukraine. With a staggering 220 panels, roundtables, and other events featuring or including Ukraine, attendees were immersed in a rich tapestry of Ukrainian academia, literature, and film. Programming about Ukraine and by Ukrainians saw incredible turnout, with attendees sitting on floors and standing in hallways outside of the conference rooms to hear and engage with Ukrainian voices.

Who They Are: Ukraine on Campus Stipend Recipients

 

Five students, across all degree levels, were selected as stipend recipients:

  • William Ronald Debnam, Columbia University, pursuing a PhD in Ukrainian Studies and instructor of Elementary Ukrainian
  • Anastasiia Pereverten, University of Wyoming, pursuing a B.A. in International Studies
  • Viktoriia Savchuk, University of Maryland, pursuing a PhD in Communications
  • Oleksii Shebanov, Brown University, pursuing an A.B. in Intellectual History & Slavic Studies
  • Iryna Tofan, New York University, pursuing an MA  in Museum Studies

 

Razom also supported local students in engaging with the ASEEES 2023 program and attending academics, researchers, and voices on Ukraine. Through our programming, students were able to connect one-on-one with experts and community leaders such as Emily Channell-Justice, Serhii Plokhy, Olena Lennon, Bishop Borys Gudziak, Volodymyr Sheiko, Halyna Hryn, Vitaly Chernetsky, Sophia Wilson, and many other academics from Ukraine and beyond. Viktoriia also presented during 3 panels and stipend recipients were often the first to ask questions and engage in discourse in and around the panel discussions.

Victory Reads: Olena Stiazhkina

 

Another highlight of the convention was the collaboration between Razom and the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI). Razom, in partnership with HURI, organized a compelling book talk featuring Olena Stiazhkina, attracting  a full auditorium and showcasing the appetite for engaging discussions around Ukrainian contemporary literature. Stiazhkina, whose recent book tour in NYC Razom proudly amplified, discussed her two forthcoming books to be published in English in 2024:Ukraine, War, Love and Cecil the Lion Had to Die, which was translated with the support of Razom Translates. 

Local Spotlight: University of Pennsylvania

 

The Ukraine on Campus team, advisors, and stipend recipients had the opportunity to visit the University of Pennsylvania and join the Ukrainian Student Association at Penn for Ukrainian Tea Time on campus. Ukrainian Tea Time, hosted by professor of Ukrainian language, Kseniia Power, was an opportunity for cross-campus engagement between Ukrainian language instructors, student leaders on their respective campuses, and young academics studying Ukraine and interested in engaging with ASEEES to decolonize the field. 

Ukraine on Campus: Stipends & Beyond

 

Razom’s Ukraine on Campus project was pleased to offer travel stipends to students who were interested in attending this year’s ASEEES Convention. Travel grants were available to partially offset the costs of Convention attendance. The project, which features a directory of 60+ Ukrainian student groups across U.S. university campuses, is a developing initiative focused on connecting students interested in championing Ukraine and mobilizing the resources they need to activate their campuses in support of a Ukrainian victory. Its goal is to engage student activism both on campus and beyond through conferences, event tours, and more.

 

To support initiatives such as Ukraine on Campus as well as all the work that Razom is doing to support a secure, prosperous and democratic Ukraine, please donate HERE.

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Razom For Ukraine Announces New Advocacy Advisory Board Members

Published: December 8, 2023   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2023

Contact:
Nana Gongadze, Head of Advocacy Communications
nana.gongadze@razomforukraine.org

 

 

Razom For Ukraine Welcomes New Advocacy Advisory Board Members

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Razom Advocacy, a program of Razom for Ukraine committed to advancing Ukrainian victory, announces the addition of three new members of its Advocacy Advisory Board. Composed of experienced leaders, the advisory board will guide the Razom Advocacy team as it seeks to ensure that Ukraine receives the tools it needs for a swift victory.

 

The three new members are:

  • Gen. Philip Breedlove (ret.), Former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

  • Mark Levin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO,  National Coalition for Supporting Eurasian Jewry

  • Steven Moore, President, Ukraine Freedom Project

 

“We are thankful to these influential experts and executives for joining our Razom Advocacy Advisory Board. They bring decades of experience in the military, international politics, and the government, and have already done so much to help Ukraine at this critical time. Together, we will continue to work relentlessly to make sure Ukraine gets the resources it needs for victory,” said Mykola Murskyj, Director of Advocacy for Razom for Ukraine

 

Established in the United States in 2014, Razom strives to create a more democratic and prosperous Ukraine. Razom Advocacy was created in March 2022 as part of Razom’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, Razom has raised more than $100 million for emergency relief and psychological assistance to Ukrainian civilians, supplies and generators for medical facilities, tactical medicine and communications gear for the armed forces, and support for Ukrainian cultural projects. 

 

New members join the existing Razom Advocacy Advisory Board, which includes:

 

Dr. Anders Åslund, Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Free World Forum for Global Affairs 

Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs 

Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia

Victor J. Herlinsky, Jr., Attorney, Sills, Cummis & Gross

Yevhen Hlibovytsky, Partner, Pro.Mova Consulting

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (ret.), Former Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe

The Honorable Tom Malinowski, Former Representative for New Jersey’s 7th District, U.S. House of Representatives 

Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head, Center for Civil Liberties & 2022 Nobel Laureate

Nate Mook, Former CEO, World Central Kitchen

Nataliya Popovych, Founder & President, One Philosophy & WeAreUkraine 

Christina Walsh, Senior Director of Activism and Coalitions, Institute for Justice 

Diane Zeleny, Head of External Affairs, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 

 

###

For media inquiries or other questions, Nana Gongadze at nana.gongadze@razomforukraine.org. Razom (“together” in Ukrainian) is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to helping build a more democratic and prosperous Ukraine. More information is available at RazomForUkraine.org. 

 
 

“Waiting for Victory” – Children’s Art from Ukraine

Published: December 4, 2023   

 

This year, we received the most wonderful holiday gifts: seasonal art created for us by children whom Razom grantees serve in liberated and war torn areas of Ukraine, and those from all over the country who participated in the art contest “St. Nicholas Carries Victory to Ukrainian Children”. Over 800 drawings were submitted!

 

We are so pleased to share these samples and the winning entries with you in honor of their spirit and resilience. In spite

of a terrible invasion, children continue to be children:

imaginative and creative, inspiring us all.

 

On behalf of the entire global Razom team,

we wish you and your family a very joyous holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

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Diana,

6 years old,
Kramatorsk

 

Anaastasiya,

9 years old,
Bucha

Sophia,

13 years old,
Zaporizhiya

Arina,

6 years old,
Kyiv

Maria,

9 years old,
Zaporizhya

Zlata,

11 years old,
Tarasivka

Oleksandra,

5 years old,
Zaporizhya

Veronika,

9 years old,
Kosiv

Sophia,

12 years old,
Drabiv

Yehor,

9 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Ihor,

8 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Makar,

7 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Xenia,

13 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Yevheniiy,

13 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Alisa,

6 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Matviy,

9 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

Hlib,

9 years old,
Kharkiv Oblast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On behalf of the entire global Razom team,

we wish you and your family a very joyous holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Support Razom

Restoring Hope: Razom’s Co-Pilot Project Brings VNS Therapy to Ukraine

Published: November 30, 2023   

In the fight against epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, the Co-Pilot Project, an initiative under the auspices of Razom Health, has emerged as a beacon of hope for children in Ukraine. Through a generous grant from LivaNova, the leading producer of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) systems, Co-Pilot has brought this life-changing therapy to Ukraine, offering a lifeline to children whose seizures have proven resistant to conventional treatment methods.

 

The Power of VNS Therapy

VNS therapy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, involves implanting a small device called a neurostimulator under the skin, connected to the vagus nerve. This nerve, which runs from the brain to the abdomen, plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including seizure activity. The neurostimulator sends mild electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, helping to reduce seizure frequency and severity.

VNS is currently most commonly used for children who have partial seizures that do not respond to traditional interventions.

 

In Lviv, Ukraine, Mykhailo Lovga, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery  at the First Medical Union, has successfully implemented the VNS system, bringing relief to six epileptic children. The first two surgeries, for Oleksandra from Mykolaiv and Denys from Dnipro, have been resounding successes.

Denys, a 9-year-old boy, has battled epilepsy since the age of three. Despite numerous medications and brain surgery, his seizures persisted. VNS therapy has offered him a renewed chance to live a normal life. Within three weeks of the operation, Denys has experienced a significant reduction in seizure activity.

In Kyiv, Konstantin Kostiuk, MD, PHD, Chief of Neurosurgery at the Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute, has introduced VNS therapy to a 10-year-old boy named Roman. Roman’s epilepsy, characterized by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, has proven resistant to conventional treatments, including over ten anti-seizure medications and a ketogenic diet. VNS therapy represents another ray of hope for Roman, and the team is anticipating positive outcomes in the coming months.

The Co-Pilot Project’s success in implementing VNS therapy in Ukraine is a testament to the power of partnership and innovation. Working closely with local medical experts, Co-Pilot has ensured that these life-changing treatments reach the children who need them most.

Your support is crucial in enabling Co-Pilot to continue its work of providing life-changing medical care to children in Ukraine. Please consider donating to Razom and help us bring hope to those who need it most.

Together, we can make a difference.

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.

Investing in Ukraine’s Future: Razom’s Commitment to Education and Innovation

Published: November 29, 2023   

Razom is proud to support  education in Ukraine. We are passionate about investing in the country’s talented youth, the future generation of professionals set to lead with innovation, drive positive change, and contribute to global advancements.

Recently, Razom sponsored the first, in-person school of mathematics for students in grades 1-6 and 10th grade, held in the Kyiv region at the end of October. This one-week event brought together 80 participants and featured not only intensive math sessions but also master classes, talent shows, chess tournaments and sports activities.

In the words of one participant, the atmosphere created by the teachers made math irresistible.. Onsite math schools are vital, providing face-to-face learning that fosters stronger connections and faster progress compared to remote alternatives.

 

The event was organized by Tsyfra, one of Kyiv’s finest math clubs dedicated to providing supplementary mathematical education and nurturing scientific thinking among primary and secondary students. With  disciplines like math, mathematical logic, physics/natural science and chess, Tsyfra  educates  through study groups, emphasizing problem-solving via lectures, seminars, games, and theoretical analyses.

 

The center’s commitment to academic excellence is evident through consistently high results in various Olympiads and competitions, as students continue to excel, even amidst the challenges of war.

At Razom, our mission is to continue fostering democracy and prosperity in Ukraine, and we believe supporting education is a key, long term strategy to manifest this purpose. We proudly recognize the dedicated teachers shaping the minds of Ukrainian children, and the students who persevere in their studies. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our amazing sponsors, whose generosity makes these programs possible. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter future in Ukraine.

We invite you to learn more and support Razom’s Relief Program, of which Razom Ticket is a part. 

NEW YORK JETS ANNOUNCE RAZOM FOR UKRAINE AS RECIPIENT OF AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 FOR UKRAINIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

Published: November 27, 2023   

Part of $1,000,000 commitment from the Jets

The New York Jets have donated an additional $100,000 to benefit Razom for Ukraine. The donation is part of the organization’s $1 million commitment, to be split between various organizations, to help aid the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Previous donations of $100,000 were given to Razom for Ukraine, Plast Scouting, the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, UNITED24, CityServe, Slow Beskid & Children’s Paths, Nova Ukraine and Revived Soldiers Ukraine.

In 2022 and 2023, Razom distributed more than $80 million in donated funds to over 150 organizations in Ukraine that provide aid and services to frontline and liberated areas that supply basic needs such as food, power, medicine, first aid kits and water filtration systems. Additional and ongoing support includes providing winterization materials to individuals along with the scaling up tactical medicines and supplies for field medics, evacuation vehicles, tourniquets, portable medical scanners, and mobile shower units for frontline defenders.

The events in Ukraine are personal to the Johnson family and the New York Jets.  Suzanne Johnson, wife of Mr. Johnson, grew up in a Ukrainian neighborhood in New York and is from a family of immigrants.  Her mother, Marie, was born to Ukrainian immigrant parents while her father, Stefan Ircha, is from Ternopil, a town outside of Kyiv, and immigrated to the United States after WWII.  

For more information about the charitable organizations that have received the donations, please visit https://www.newyorkjets.com/community/ukraine-relief.

About Jets Foundation

We create impactful programming that leaves lasting legacies for our community. Initiatives funded by the New York Jets Foundation positively influence the lives of young people in the tri-state area and provide opportunity for disadvantaged communities.

About Razom for Ukraine

Razom for Ukraine (Razom) was founded in 2014 and is one of the leading US-based nonprofits dedicated to the mission of supporting a democratic and prosperous Ukraine. With a robust international network of volunteers and partners, Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, provides humanitarian aid, and administers programs and services focused on health, advocacy, civil society and culture. Razom advances its mission by creating spaces where people meet, partner and do, while maintaining a relentless focus on the needs on the ground in Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Razom for Ukraine has grown to include over 200,000 donors and volunteers. Website: www.razomforukraine.org.

 

Contact: Meghan Gilmore (973) 549-4684

Photo: Greg Kupchynsky 

Celebrating Ukrainian Culture: Highlights from the New York Ukrainian Cultural Festival

Published: November 22, 2023   

Celebrating Ukrainian Culture: Highlights from the New York Ukrainian Cultural Festival

 

This year’s inaugural festival, founded by Razom in partnership with Yara Arts, the Shevchenko Scientific Society and the Ukrainian Institute of America, took place from November 7 – 19 in New York City. It was dedicated to the memory of renowned Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who tragically lost her life this past June when Kramatorsk was attacked.

 

“We decided to hold a cultural festival in New York to preserve her memory and the cause she was passionate about, the New York Literary Festival that she founded. Amplifying Ukrainian voices and cultural diplomacy here in the States are core principles of Razom’s mission, which we wanted to advance with this initiative. In general, over a thousand people connected with the festival, many of whom were not Ukrainian,” shared Razom Board member, Maria Genkin.

 

Various cultural events took place in Manhattan during the festival that focused on Ukrainian literature, music and cinema.


“We included a diverse range of films, opening with ‘Dovbush’ and hosting a packed evening with a selection of short films, concluding with ‘Pamfir’ receiving a standing ovation,” explained Polina Buchak, film curator at Razom.

Four events were dedicated to Ukrainian poetry. Poets Alex Averbukh, Boris and Lyudmila Khersonsky, and Iya Kiva read their poetry in the original, while translators or actors read in English. In events produced by Yara Arts Group, poetry from the Executed Renaissance generation of writers, Victoria Amelina, and Serhiy Zhadan, was featured.

In addition, the New York Public Library hosted a meeting with Ukrainian writers. Andrii Kurkov, Oksana Lutsyshyna, and Olena Styazhkina presented their novels published in America this year to over a hundred readers who attended.

During the festival, the public discovered the music of Sergei Bortkiewicz. Musicians Anna Shelest, Pavlo Hintov, and Oleksandr Chaplynsky performed works by this little-known composer born in Kharkiv at the end of the 19th century. 

 

Throughout the festival, organizers raised funds for Amelina’s beloved “New York Literary Festival”. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped organize this extraordinary celebration of Ukrainian culture and to all who attended!

 

 

Stay tuned for more exciting events! To support Razom: https: razomforukraine.org/donate

Rebuilding Together: Sturdy Roofs for Winter

Published: November 16, 2023   

Russia’s full-scale invasion left the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, including villages like Prudianka, Tsypivka, Brazhkivka, and Mala Komyshuvakha, along with the city of Izium, deeply scarred. With winter approaching, damaged roofs leave homes vulnerable to the elements. Recognizing the urgent need for shelter before winter, Razom under the auspices of our Relief Program, provided grants to Volonterska UA, Nove Misto and World foundation for Ukraine, to undertake the crucial task of rebuilding roofs.

 

Over the past 6 months, these communities bore the brunt of extensive damage: 90% of buildings destroyed, direct hits from unexploded ordnance, and the aftermath of shelling and explosive waves. Basic necessities became a luxury, with villages located up to 30 kilometers away from major roads, rendering them practically inaccessible. With shops, pharmacies, schools, and hospitals non-operational, the challenges were immense.

 

Despite these adversities, the resilient spirit of the people prevailed, and many chose to return to their villages post-de-occupation. However, the issue of housing reconstruction remained unaddressed, leaving damaged houses vulnerable to the harsh winter conditions. Mold, deteriorating ceilings, and cracked walls served as poignant reminders of the pressing need for immediate action.

United in purpose, Razom together with Volonterska UA, Nove Misto and World foundation for Ukraine have set their focus on repairing roofs and installing windows, with a clear goal: to secure homes before the unforgiving winter sets in. This ongoing project, now one and a half months underway, extends its reach to both the rural villages and the city of Izium, where over 100 private houses suffered significant damage.

Numbers Tell the Story:

Volonterska UA

People Helped: 151 individuals

Houses Restored: 30

People Still to Help: 10 families, 20 individuals (including 2 children)

 

Nove Misto

Targeted Houses: 24

People to Help: 45 individuals

 

World foundation for Ukraine

Targeted Houses: 12

 

The project is advancing steadily. Purchasing materials and completing repairs will span the next three  months, ensuring the job is done thoroughly. Together, we’re not just rebuilding roofs; we’re restoring hope and resilience to the heart of Kharkiv and Kherson.

We invite you to learn more and support Razom’s Relief Program.