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!
A Volunteer… At 80 Years Old!
Old age is no barrier when the soul longs to assist! To keep Ukrainian soldiers warm at the front, an elderly volunteer from the village of Petrushyn, in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, even unraveled her own clothing!
“I have enough clothes to last me the rest of my days – but our boys out there need it more, let them be warm,” says Grandma Yevdokiya. She has entered her ninth decade, yet cannot sit idle – she knits round mats for her “sons,” knitted mats that Ukrainian soldiers at the front use as a soft and comfortable underlay.
I Knit for My "Sons" – Because There Are No Strangers' Children in War!
“I follow the news every day: I have a radio, a TV, and I subscribe to newspapers from Chernihiv – I listen to all the news, and I pray and cry, saying every morning: Glory to Ukraine, glory to our heroes who are fighting and defending Ukraine!
I really want to help our soldiers – with whatever I can, I’d give them everything!” says Yevdokiya Fedosivna with a warm smile.
Despite her old age, she actively volunteers and assists Ukrainian soldiers.
“If only I could get more fabric – I would sit day and night, weaving!” the woman says.
“I love this work, I weave for my ‘sons’ every day. I say ‘sons’ because among our soldiers there are those who could be my sons, and some could even be my grandchildren…”
“They are all like my own children, I worry for all our people who are there, in the war, both boys and girls, and I pray for the Virgin Mary to protect them all…
In the spring, when the full-scale war started, the open military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022, Russian occupiers lived in my summer kitchen for five days – it was so terrifying… They came, pointed their guns at me: ‘We’ll live here, and you, grandma, don’t interfere.’ They messed around in there, made a mess, took whatever they wanted, and I locked myself in a room, cried, didn’t come out for five days, sat there hungry and cold, as if waiting to die… Fortunately, the occupiers eventually left the village – but God forbid anyone should experience that… Now, as long as I have the strength, I will help our soldiers! I’m weaving these round mats for the front, weaving and weaving, I’ve gone through all my wardrobe – sweaters, dresses, skirts, – all ripped up and woven into these mats… I’ve only kept what I wear and what I’ve set aside for my death – but it’s not time to die yet, we need to live and help!”
How Grannies Gathered Funds for Drones with Their Singing!
“Girls and I sang together to raise money for drones for our soldiers, and it was quite an experience,” says Grandma Yevdokiya.
“By “girls,” I just mean it out of habit: my singing friends are a bit older. Katerina is nearly 87, Maria just turned 90, and I’m the youngest – I’ll be just 81 on March 14,” she laughs. “As long as we’re able – we sing! The songs we sing are old, folk songs, the kind we used to sing back in the day, but nobody knows them anymore. It’s a pity because they’re beautiful – they are our soul, our song.”
We asked the founder of the “Grannies Gather for Drones” project, well-known Chernihiv journalist, author, and host of many TV projects, Alla Klymenko, about this initiative that, thanks to the singing grannies from Petrushyn and all the caring donors, managed to fund several “birds” for Ukrainian defenders.
“Five years ago, I met the incredible singing trio from Petrushyn, which included Yevdokiya Fedosivna,” shares Alla Klymenko.
“The group became very popular among viewers. So, I had the idea to visit Petrushyn to meet with the singers. Imagine my sincere surprise and joy to find that they had not lost their rare voices or their passion for folk singing. Unfortunately, Yevheniya Telen passed away, so the group was joined by 90-year-old Maria Zevchenko. Katerina Klanovets and Yevdokiya Lazareva have been singing together for a long time, and Ms. Maria hadn’t sung for a year after her husband’s death and for 20 years after her son’s death…”
“She ended her 20-year hiatus and sang to save others’ sons because there are no strangers” children in war…
Thus, with the blessing of the singers, the desire of the audience, and the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the “Grannies Gather for Drones” section was created.
Specifically, for a drone for the unit in which my videographer, Tymofiy Huryev, serves, who volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the first day of the full-scale invasion.
Over several months, my social media followers listened to authentic songs from the carriers of primary folklore and donated. We managed to raise funds for not just one “bird” that saved the lives of our defenders,” says Ms. Alla.
“Our trio has been singing for a long time, we performed many places, were filmed, photographed, recorded – we’ve experienced a lot,” smiles Ms. Yevdokiya.
“When Alla Klymenko told us about this good deed, we immediately agreed – to sing and help our boys! It’s great that our singing was put to good use, let it help… Thanks to Alla Klymenko for coming, gathering, and recording us – the war has changed everything, we rarely meet or sing now…”
Old age is not a barrier to volunteering!
“Without much of a youth or childhood – my mother had three other little ones besides me, and times were tough post-war,” Yevdokiya Fedosivna shares about her life.
“I went to school for six years – then instead of the seventh, I had to work in the fields because my stepfather made me. From the age of thirteen, work was all I knew. Then I got married, went to work at a pig farm – and there I was for 30 years. Even after retirement, I continued working – had to raise the kids, life was tough, oh, so very hard… It was incredibly difficult for me to get by. Only singing was my salvation. I sang from the cradle,” Yevdokiya Fedosivna explains.
“Even while I was still in school, no concert or play went on without me. But then, life got in the way of singing… Ah, but let me tell you! My husband was very jealous,” Grandma Yevdokiya smiles.
“They would invite me to sing, but he wouldn’t let me go – sometimes, even the club manager would come asking for me, and my husband would scold both of us, saying – what singing, you’ve got nonsense in your heads! But I longed to sing terribly! When he finally let me, I’d rush to that club as if on wings… I’ve seen little happiness in my life, oh, very little… What to say about a newspaper, I could tell you a whole book’s worth from my life,” she smiles.
Despite her old age and the hardships endured, Yevdokiya Fedosivna remains incredibly active and joyful!
She was born in ’43 – experienced the war as a child, remembers nothing but the post-war hunger and devastation. And now, with war returning, it’s taken a heavy toll on her. Yet, Yevdokiya Fedosivna refuses to give up – if she can’t do something more strenuous, she knits, and that’s helpful too.
“I’ve knitted and unraveled all my clothes, but our boys need it more, let it keep them warm. I have this wooden hook, handmade, not bought, and I use it to knit – I used to knit before, giving my circles to the library, but now they’re for our soldiers at the front. Someone might use them under their knees, sit on them, or use them as a pillow to sleep – they’ll come in handy…
In our village, everyone helps – from the youngest to the oldest! When we were collecting food for the army – I contributed carrots, potatoes, beets, threw some cabbage into the bag – told them to make borsch! Gave some pickled cucumbers – made them myself, they’re good and crunchy! Everything I had in the garden – I gave it all! Yes, I still work in the garden, even though my hands and feet ache – I’ve worked hard all my life. I have a little bench near the garden, work a bit, sit down, rest, and then back to work. I’m already looking forward to spring – if God grants me a little more health, I’ll plant and take care of everything again, not for myself – I don’t need much anymore, but to help ours… Life goes on – we must live and work towards Victory!”
