On July 4-6, in the Kyinka, Ivanivska, and Kipti communities, ceremonial openings of maple alleys and memorial signs took place.
Alleys with memorial signs are dedicated to commemorating the events that took place in February-March 2022 in these communities. This was an important event, because they united people around a common goal - preserving memories of tragic events and honoring the memory of those who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine.
The creation of maple alleys and the installation of commemorative signs became possible thanks to the NGO "Association for Democratic Development," which, in coalition with the NGO "Women for Development," NGO "JUSTYNA," NGO "DOBRO TIME" and NGO "Kiptivska Women's Union," implemented the project "Collective Memory of the War in Chernihiv Region." It was implemented with the support of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation.
During the opening ceremonies, residents of the communities honored the memory of the dead who defended the freedom of Ukraine in this war with a minute of silence. "The creation of maple alley and the installation of a memorial sign ‒ is not just landscaping. What united the residents of the community, representatives of local authorities, business and public organizations. This shows our unity and invincibility in the face of the enemy. We will never forget what happened, and we will do everything possible so that this does not happen again, "‒ addressed the residents of the community Andrei Golovach, the village head, during the celebrations in Kyinka.
Anna Nikolenko-Baeva, head of the Association for Democratic Development NGO, also emphasized the importance of fixing and preserving historical memory: "It is extremely important for us to preserve the memory of this war and its consequences. First of all, it should be done for us and our children, for future generations of Ukrainians. Preserved eyewitness accounts, commemorative signs, works of art ‒ the way that helps to show other regions and the whole world what happened in Chernihiv region, in our communities during a full-scale invasion. To show at what enormous cost and sacrifice we are given the struggle for freedom. "
The event in the Kyiv community was attended by representatives of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation, with the support of which this project was implemented. "The Association for Democratic Development was able to unite activists who were looking for their own approach to memorialization through active involvement of communities through consultations with residents and specialists, voting and joint work and mutual assistance. Working with memory and alternative forms of memory are an integral part of working on transitional justice and creating meaningful memories of the experience in the space, not only about tragedies, but also about the resilience and strength of people, which ultimately helps social healing and continuity of memory, "‒ said Elizaveta Golubtsova, representative of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation.
16 red maples, which symbolize the memory of the dead and the thirst for life, were planted in communities during the March of this year. Now on the alleys there are commemorative signs in the form of an expanded book.
"The memorial sign carries not only a visual memory, but also leads to a digital repository of stories. Through the QR code on the sign, you can go to the website page of the territorial community. There are published stories of people who sought refuge from the war in our community, local residents and residents. The digital format allows you to preserve these testimonies forever, make them available to the general public and pass them on to the next generations, "‒ said Iryna Dubyk, a member of the NGO" Kiptivska Women's Union. "
Recording the memories of eyewitnesses is an important contribution to the preservation of historical memory. These stories give us the opportunity to take a fresh look at the events of the past, to feel the emotions of the people who experienced them, and to draw important conclusions.
The opening of maple alleys and commemorative signs is a symbol of unity, resilience and invincibility of residents and residents of the community. It is a reminder that we ‒ a strong people who can overcome any difficulties if we are united.
The project "Collective memory on the War in Chernihiv Region" is supported by the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation, which is funded by the governments of Great Britain, Estonia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden.