I am the author of the Goodacity blog, a journalist, and a translator. For 16 years, I have worked in professional journalism, contributing to regional and national publications, both in print and online media. I have written reports, conducted interviews, reviews, articles on cultural, social, and charitable topics, as well as materials in the style of "solution journalism" and communication materials.
My focus is on creating interesting and exclusive content. Journalism, to me, is primarily about human stories, to which I always find the key, empathize with the people I write about, and love all my heroes. Journalism, to me, means telling people about what truly matters to them, informing and inspiring them. It is not just a job, but a way of life, just like for all those who dream, create, and are inspired by it.
So, if you are looking for stories that inspire and motivate, that instill faith and help find meaning while believing in goodness, read my stories on the Goodacity website.
I am a manager of cultural affairs and a project manager with over 14 years of experience at United Thinkers. I have participated in the organization of numerous successful social and charitable projects and have implemented informational campaigns and communication cases.
As a marketing manager, I have been involved in organizing marketing and sociological research, working with media and partners, developing advertising and marketing strategies, as well as planning and implementing advertising campaigns.
I believe in the power of goodness and I am happy that as part of the Goodacity project, I can contribute to its expansion. I believe in the power of words and in the fact that communication can help make the world a better place. I know how, where and when to speak in order to be heard. And when you are heard, you can change the world!
THE PATH OF THE MESSENGER OF GOOD
When a couple becomes a volunteer tandem
At first glance, they are quite different. “Energizer” Tanya is cheerful, consistently bright in everything she does, and Victor is calm, serious, and composed. However, during our almost two-hour interview (serious and fun, insightful and inspiring), it becomes evident how united they are. In everything they do. In how they complement and assist each other. How they tenderly care for each other. How they share common values and priorities. United in their compassion and desire to help…
In Chernihiv, Tanya is known as a master of incredible sushi and a successful blogger, while Victor is a well-known activist… Together, they form an incredible volunteer tandem that helps those defending our peace! And that’s how we begin our conversation…
Helping the army: how it all began
– Tanya, Victor, you’re not just a couple, but also a volunteer tandem… Is it easier to volunteer as a “family”?
Tanya: Victor is our idea generator, and I provide informational support – she laughs. When we receive requests from the guys, when we open a fundraiser, and when we see a goal, we become very active in working to achieve it. No matter what we do, whether it’s helping the army or something else, we do it together, support and inspire each other. It just happened naturally. The thing is, our story as a couple, our family, was born during the most turbulent period in Ukraine’s history – during the Revolution of Dignity and the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which was then still called ATO, along with our own life’s ups and downs. We were toughened by these difficulties from the start, so now nothing scares us…
Victor: Tanya and I complement each other in everything. My strong pro-Ukrainian position has been with me since childhood – everything Ukrainian fills me with love. As an adult, in my free time from work and studies, I read a lot about our history, studied forgotten customs and traditions, and immersed myself in them. And in the autumn of 2013, starting with the Maidan and the Revolution of Dignity, my journey began, not just as a volunteer but, I would say, as a fighter for true Ukrainian independence. That autumn was rich in significant life events, both pleasant and challenging: the Maidan and the realization that I would have to fight on two fronts – for my own life and health…
– Do you remember how it was?
Victor: I had been involved in sports my whole life, which was my passion. When I noticed that it was getting increasingly difficult to continue, I decided to find out what the problem was. I asked for time off and went to the doctors for tests. When I was returning from the hospital, I stopped at a café to have tea. That’s where I met Tanya – it was the summer of 2013. And the very next day, I found out that I had a serious kidney condition. The doctors said that if I avoided physical strain and exposure to cold, I could expect at least another 10 years of normal life. But my restless character and desire to do what I wanted, rather than sit and wait for someone else, led to where we are now. Such are the twists of fate… And then came the Maidan, the Revolution of Dignity… My journey as a volunteer began with the realization that the enemy had attacked our land. When the Ukrainian-Russian war started in the spring of 2014 and many friends and acquaintances who had been at the Maidan went to the front, the question arose: “Who if not us?”
Tanya: More accurately, at the time, it sounded like, “Who if not me?” Can you imagine that, already being seriously ill, he went to the Maidan, and when the ATO began, he was involved in volunteering, and he didn’t even tell me; he was protecting me… It was much later that I found out that Victor wanted to enlist but wasn’t accepted into the army due to his health. So every day, between the hospital and work, he was engaged in volunteering. I remember how in the bitter cold of February, Victor stood in front of the “Kvartal” store with donation boxes, collecting food and funds for the military. For eight years, while the war was “somewhere far away” for others, he helped the army and warned that one day, this war might come right to our doorsteps. And it did…
What will remain in memory
– February 24th is the day that divided life into “before” and “after.” Do you remember what it was like for you?
Tanya: I remember the shock and fear from the news and everything happening around us, and at the same time, the incredible actions of true People and the pride in who they are… On the first day of the full-scale war, my food supplier, who had several large warehouses of meat and dairy products, called me and said, “Tanya, I want to distribute all of this to the people… I trust you to do it: take the keys and give it to whoever you think needs it.” We went to the warehouse, and there was an abundance of everything! We loaded our car to the brim, asked for help from friends, and started delivering the products to hospitals, checkpoints, and storage facilities. We left our children at home and went on our way, while planes flew overhead, and explosions happened right next to us… It was very frightening, but we didn’t rest until everything was distributed. And you know, there were many such incredible examples of humanity and mutual aid. I remember people from local farms calling us and saying, “We have 60 piglets, and we won’t have anything to feed them, so we’re giving them away for meat, and you find a way to organize and implement it.” To say we were shocked would be an understatement – we laughed. But we organized everything and even provided fresh food to the soldiers at the checkpoints. I also remember how an explosion wave blew out the windows of a thrift store near our house – we called the police, and later, with the owners’ permission (albeit with some difficulty), we took warm socks, pants, and sweaters from there and brought them to the guys at the checkpoints. You should have seen their eyes when we arrived with all these goods! Such moments are unforgettable… It was very cold, and they were dressed in whatever they had on when they left their homes on the morning of February 24th – both young and elderly men. Immense gratitude to these People – because if they weren’t there, we wouldn’t be here…
On the third or fourth day of the full-scale invasion, we traveled to Cherkasy – Victor needed dialysis to survive, but even there, we didn’t sit idly by and continued to volunteer and help…
Victor: We left Chernihiv for Cherkasy on February 28th because I needed dialysis, and the strength drawn from childhood literature about war and my personal experience in 2014 allowed me to envision the perspective of my near future in Chernihiv. I remember that in the first few weeks, we did our best to obtain gear and necessary equipment for the soldiers. All the stores and warehouses had been emptied; nothing was available – everyone was waiting for barbecues, and few were preparing for war. We managed to find and purchase a batch of body armor for the soldiers, and very quickly, within a week, we collected funds for two thermal imaging sights, and within another week, we had enough for a third one. When we handed all of this to our guys in Chernihiv, they were shocked – how did you manage to do this?! People organized themselves in a united effort – to help the army, to help those resisting the Russian invasion.
– And then your path as a volunteer couple continued to unfold…
Tanya: That’s how we live, with the motto “Who, if not us?” We work, help, support, and inspire each other. That’s how our project “Charitable Ukha” was born. One day, we were making fish soup at our dacha, and I suggested to Vitya, “Why don’t we organize a charitable ukha?” We’d provide the delicious food, and people could come, donate, and enjoy it.
Victor: I became the head “chef” – I love to cook, and for me, it’s a very creative and inspired process. I’m delighted that many people came – we got to know each other, had conversations, it was great. And we also managed to raise around five thousand hryvnias. Now, many people ask us, “When will the ukha happen again – we’ll come and bring friends…” People attend such events for the emotions – to talk, “show themselves,” and meet people. It’s always interesting, it’s always a synergy. People find it more interesting to donate when they get something in return, not necessarily material items, but emotions.
The Power of Thought
– What is the specificity of volunteering now, in the second year of the full-scale war?
Victor: In war, time is measured not in days, hours, and minutes but in human lives. All the equipment we collect primarily means saved lives of our soldiers. The scariest part is not being in time… Therefore, it’s important that everything is done promptly and in time, and this cannot be achieved without people’s support. Over the past year, we’ve collected over 640,000 hryvnias for various military needs and to fulfill many requests from them. In total, over the past 10 years, we’ve provided the military with a wide range of equipment, ammunition, and other essentials. Often, nowadays, you hear that volunteering should not be displayed, that you shouldn’t showcase your volunteer work… No, quite the opposite; you need to show it so that people can see your work and its effectiveness. It’s essential to show both the needs and achievements. First, you’re providing accountability, and second, you’re inspiring others. Additionally, society sees who lives according to their interests. Most importantly, we shouldn’t forget that there’s a war going on. Today it’s “over there,” but if we become complacent and forget about it, the war will be back here. We’ve already made this mistake twice – it’s time to learn from it and remember. Enough.
Tanya: I donate every day – from minimal amounts of a hundred hryvnias to much larger sums, either for our own collections or for other volunteers’ efforts. I didn’t use to showcase this because I thought that helping the army is a norm, that it’s natural, and that everyone does it. There have been collections where I was the only one participating – but I wanted to help the people doing the work, to show that they are not alone… Volunteer work should be visible so that people can see that it’s not time to “tire of the war.” Today, our soldiers are defending us. Unfortunately, some are giving their lives for us and our country. What we collect for them is the least we can do to show our gratitude!
I’m not saying we’re super-volunteers, no… There are people who do much more. But, as they say, “Many a mickle makes a muckle.” We do everything we can to bring our Victory closer. And the more of these caring people there are, the closer it will be.
I’ll share something personal, painful: those who know what dialysis is and what it’s like to survive, not live, will understand the daily feat Victor accomplishes. You could come home after work and sit on the couch, “exhausted.” But after work, he goes for dialysis, simply to live, and yet he finds the strength for volunteering every day. My husband is an example and a driving force for me. He inspires me to volunteer because I understand the incredible work he does.
Victor: Considering my health, I could leave Ukraine with my family and live abroad. But, on the contrary, I choose this challenging path… Why? The answer is straightforward: I love Ukraine. I want to help build it. That’s why my family and I are here. Nowadays, everyone loves talking about Victory – wishing for it, toasting to it, giving grandiose speeches… But, in reality, you need to work for it. Tirelessly. Every day, with everything we can: donations, actions. Victory should not just be awaited but brought closer!