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!
Stray animals – how to help them
Stray animals on the streets – how do you imagine them? “If you see a beautiful, chubby, beloved dog, know that she’s taken care of by ‘mom’ Stolyarova,” Mrs. Olena laughs. And this is one of those cases where everything in the joke is absolutely true! The way Olena and Anatoliy, the Chernihiv zoo volunteers, take care of and cherish animals is sincere and unconditional love! Their love is so great that it extends to as many as 65 (!) furry charges!
Feeding, treating, sterilizing, caring, nurturing, and, most importantly, Loving! For Mrs. Olena and Mr. Anatoliy, this is their daily reality that they give to their wards.
Homeless but so "homeful"!
“Stray animals are my pain,” says Olena Stolyarova. “You know what I dream of? I dream that there won’t be any stray animals at all, none! And that buying a puppy or a kitten would be incredibly difficult and outrageously expensive, that it would be such a scarcity, that people would tremble to acquire one, not for breeding or chaining, but for love… Because they deserve it!”
Children and dogs always run after us outside because they are the purest souls, they sense good people,” the woman smiles. “Where did it all begin? From birth… From the family, because that’s where humanity is instilled. We’ve always had animals. Always! My husband and I don’t have a single shared photo where some ‘tail’ doesn’t snuggle up to us… This tender love for all living beings, understanding their importance and value – it brought us together and has been inspiring us for many years. Look at families where Love and Trust prevail – they are happy and cherish not only each other but also all living things around them.
My husband and I try to somehow ease and brighten the lives of stray animals because, besides food, they need our Love and care, to be by their side. Over the past 20 years, we have taken care of more than 65 little dogs, and each of them could have stories written about them – about pain, betrayal, mutilation… Usually, after sterilization (which is mandatory) and treatment, we already love them and cannot abandon them to a difficult existence without food and even water, so we take them under our care.
At our country house, in a village in Chernihiv region, Ukraine, there are 12 elderly dogs living with us. We took them in when they were sick and unhappy, so that they could spend their remaining years in love and comfort… And they have survived – we healed them with love, and now they return that love to us in abundance! What devoted and affectionate souls they are! So now we live “on two fronts”: my husband spends some time in the village, taking care of our “furry household,” while I help by going to Podusivka to feed stray animals.
For each feeding, we take 4-5 twelve-liter buckets filled with porridge made from meat scraps or broth, as well as dry food – a bag per week, just a crunch – and that’s it! And we’ve been doing this every day for over… twenty years!
All the dogs have “euro-renovated” kennels – high-quality, warm, dry. They are well-groomed, treated, and have received all the necessary vaccinations – against rabies, against worms.
I don’t want people to think that I’m boasting about how I help animals – no, not at all, it’s about something else… First and foremost, I want to show everyone the opportunity – you can do it too: do something, save, help! We try to promote humane treatment of animals and defend their right to live alongside us with our own lives. Stray animals – they are actually so “sheltered”! They are always happy to see us and wag their tails or purr gently when we meet. They love us, humans – so let’s love them too, embodying this love in care and attention!
There are no bad dogs! Dogs are only aggressive when they are hungry, just like humans,” Mrs. Olena laughs. “If they are well-fed, well-cared for, and no one has beaten or traumatized them, they will never show aggression. At home, we have cats, dogs, and even a parrot – they all get along, in friendship and love! All my “tail-waggers” are incredible sweethearts, including the huge Caucasian Shepherd named Gebbels, who was left in our care by a guy from the Armed Forces, and is now near Bahmut, Ukraine…
"I save 'tails' with love and it saves me"
Last spring, during active combat operations, it was very difficult. In our village, which was under occupation, there were 12 dogs left, and thanks to a caring woman named Tetiana, they survived and waited for us… The day after the full-scale invasion on February 25, under ceaseless cannonades of shelling and explosions, Anatoliy walked there on foot – 25 kilometers! – carrying a bag of food for the dogs on his shoulders. He took a long time to return – I was waiting for him, incredibly worried… And then came the occupation… And our pain – we couldn’t get there until April 2nd… I was injured by an explosion, but we never sat idle for a single day, we didn’t go to shelters – because we obtained, prepared, fed, and carried water, 100 liters a day… Our guys from the Ukrainian Armed Forces were standing near us, and I washed their clothes: we fetched water from the Stryzhen River, heated it in cauldrons, and rinsed the clothes in the icy water of the river…
And there was also the help to animals during the war: we traveled throughout the city under the explosions, tried to feed whoever we saw because stray animals are particularly vulnerable during war. I witnessed the bombing of School No. 18 – I was nearby, feeding the dogs… We held on, and our wards did too, but unfortunately, not all of them – some of the dogs couldn’t withstand it, their hearts gave out…
You know what I will never forget? On April 2nd, when our guys were liberating Chernihiv region, they were driving on armored vehicles, and next to them, on the turrets, there were dogs and cats that they had saved along the way! Three vehicles were driving, and all three had animals sitting on the turrets. When I saw that, I couldn’t hold back my tears – these are People! Unfortunately, many people still perceive pets as objects rather than living beings, and stray animals are often neglected as well. They are completely dependent on us, so their lives serve as a litmus test for the humanity and spirituality of society.
Sometimes, I joke that my educational work on humane treatment of animals is like water that wears away a stone. I sincerely rejoice when I manage to convince someone not to keep a dog on a chain or to improve its living conditions. I explain and share how to help animals.
I am often asked – where do you get so much patience, determination, and strength to continue every day, despite the pain, problems, and lack of funds – to rescue, feed, treat, and care for them? “Out of love!” I reply. Everything I do, all this immense work, my whole life can truly be summed up in one all-encompassing word – love! For me, it is a password, a key to everything. The fundamental rule in life. Its ultimate purpose. I have healed everyone with love. I save with love – “tails” and people – and it saves me. I love ♥️.
