Maple alleys and memorial signs were opened in the Kyiv, Ivaniv and Kiptiv communities

On July 4-6, solemn openings of maple alleys and memorial signs took place in the Kyiv, Ivaniv and Kiptiv communities.

Alleys with memorial signs are dedicated to commemorating the events that took place in February-March 2022 in these communities. This became an important event, because they united people around the common goal of – 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 memorial signs became possible thanks to the NGO "Association of Democratic Development", which in coalition with the NGO "Women for Development", the NGO "Yustyna", the NGO "Good Time" and the 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, the residents of the communities observed a moment of silence in memory of the dead who defended the freedom of Ukraine in this war. "Creating a maple alley and installing a memorial sign ‒ is not just a beautification of the territory. What united community residents, representatives of local authorities, businesses and public organizations around it. This testifies to our unity and indomitability 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", Andriy Holovach, the village head, addressed the residents of the community during the celebrations in Kyiv.

The importance of fixing and preserving historical memory was also emphasized by Anna Nikolenko-Bayeva, head of the NGO "Association for Democratic Development": It is extremely important for us to preserve the memory of this war and its consequences. First of all, it is worth doing for us and our children, for future generations of Ukrainians. Surviving eyewitness accounts, memorial signs, works of art ‒ the method that helps to show other regions and the whole world what happened in Chernihiv Oblast in our communities during the full-scale invasion. To show at what a huge price and sacrifice the struggle for freedom is given to us".

The event in the Kyiv community was attended by representatives of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation, with whose support this project was implemented. The Association for Democratic Development NGO was able to unite activists who were looking for their own approach to memorialization through the 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 in the space about what you have experienced, not only about tragedies, but also the resilience and strength of people, which ultimately helps social healing and the durability of memory", ‒ said Elizaveta Golubtsova, representative of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Foundation.

16 red maples each, symbolizing the memory of the dead and the thirst for life, were planted in communities during the tolok in March of this year. Now there are memorial signs in the form of an open book on the alleys.

"The memorial carries not only visual memory, but also leads to a digital storehouse 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 future generations", said Iryna Dubyk, a member of the NGO "Kiptivska Women's Union".

Capturing eyewitness memories – is an important contribution to the preservation of historical memory. These stories give us the opportunity to look at the events of the past in a new way, to feel the emotions of the people who experienced them, and to draw important conclusions.

Opening of maple alleys and memorial signs – is a symbol of unity, stability and indomitability of residents of communities. It is a reminder that we are a ‒ strong people who are able to overcome any difficulties if we are united.

The project "Collective memory of the war in Chernihiv Oblast" is/is implemented with the support of the "Partnership for a Strong Ukraine" Foundation, which is financed by the governments of Great Britain, Estonia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden.