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!
Meet a Chernihiv Volunteer: Helping Others as a Way of Life
Meet Olya Dolishnya: a mother of three, the wife of a volunteer defender, and a volunteer with a big heart!
On Volunteer Day, we talk to the incredible Chernihiv volunteer Olya Dolishnya! Her story is one of never losing optimism and always moving forward!
“Where does my volunteering spirit come from, you ask?” laughs Mrs. Olya.
“From birth! My friends always jokingly called me ‘Mother Teresa’ for my boundless desire to help everyone in the world… My late mother was the same – always trying to warm everyone, to shelter them…”
“She lived in Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske, Ukraine. I remember, once I visited there, and I see my mom leading someone’s funeral procession, carrying a large wooden cross. When I got home, I started asking her about it, and she burst into tears, saying, ‘You see, Olya, an elderly lady passed away, and there was no one to bury her. So, I took the cross and went first – thinking someone else would follow. And that’s exactly what happened – people joined in, and together we gave the lady her last rites…’.
And I thought: what a powerful metaphor! Someone has to be the first to take up the cross… Not everyone can be equally compassionate, but if one person stands up and moves forward, others will follow…”
United for Aid!
“On February 26, just three days into the full-scale invasion, my husband had already joined the territorial defense. A father of three, he volunteered without hesitation – just went to the nearest volunteer center, stood in a huge line of men and women eager to defend Ukraine, and joined their ranks. Honestly, I had a strong desire to go with him and defend our homeland together. But he convinced me to stay behind with the children.”
Olya left Chernihiv under bombardment, with explosions all around, the sky ablaze, and her little son crying: “Mom, are we going to die?…”. They found refuge in Lviv region, Ukraine, and from the very first days, she decided not to sit idly by. They settled in a house, and in the first months of the “great war,” this home provided temporary shelter to over 30 families, most of them from Chernihiv, Ukraine.
“As time went on, people were disoriented, scared, watching the news and not knowing what to do or what to cling to… I started to rally the people: let’s do something, help out: knit camouflage nets, make Molotov cocktails, collect and send food and warm clothes to our defenders, help Kyiv, Ukraine, and besieged Chernihiv.
And every day, the assistance grew – thanks to people seeing the movement and joining in, uniting… To help, you don’t need to wait for a special moment or day – Volunteer Day, you just need to start doing something…”
When her husband began his service, Olya set out to help him and his comrades from the unit – as the situation was dire. She brought them everything from stoves to radios and flashlights, all sorts of necessities. She was with the guys at the training grounds, learning to shoot – to be ready to defend the homeland.
Then a friend of hers suggested – Olya, I see you’re helping the military – let’s go abroad for aid for them. Olya had never been abroad in her life – but decided if it would allow her to help the guys more effectively, it was worth a try.
On March 3, they arrived in Poland and were amazed at how many foreign journalists – from Poland, England, Germany – wanted to talk to them, take interviews, ask about everything happening in our country.
“I remember how shocked they were when they heard that we were here just for volunteer aid and planned to go back – back to where the war was… Our bus was filled with humanitarian aid almost instantly – people wanted to support and help so much”.
And so they kept traveling and helping – and each time they were moved to tears by the overwhelming support from people all around the world! They sent items not only to besieged Chernihiv and Kyiv but also daring volunteer friends delivered aid to Kharkiv, Ukraine – wherever it was needed. And they rescued and evacuated animals from combat zones: sick, miserable, injured ones, sometimes transporting dozens in a bus – to give them a chance at life.
Victory is Every Day We Stand Strong and Survive
Olya became acquainted and formed a bond with the Ukrainian Youth Association in Stryi, Ukraine – they asked for her help in bringing cars from abroad for the Ukrainian military – and she took on the challenge!
Before the full-scale Russian invasion, Olya had never been abroad. Now, her passport is running out of space for travel stamps, but none of those trips were for leisure, no! Tens of thousands of kilometers driven, so that cars for Ukrainian Defenders, warm clothing, medicines, and food could reach the front lines, addressing the needs across all corners of Ukraine, and the most touching assistance – for orphanages and large families…
“Our military, seeing a sizable van or SUV, and filled with all kinds of useful necessities, and behind its wheel – a delicate woman, a mother of three, are just shocked! They wonder, asking me: ‘Did you drive it here yourself, and even went abroad to get it?’.
Yes, I say, I did! All because we love you so much, we are so grateful to you, because you are protecting our families, our children. You give us the opportunity to live and greet each new day.
When you talk about it, everything seems so simple and easy, but in reality, volunteering is hard work – both physically and emotionally. And these two years have been very tough – my father was diagnosed with serious cancer, his leg was amputated, but we are still fighting, we don’t give up!”.
Her husband, during his service, was in many hotspots – a village in Donetsk region, Ukraine, where he and his comrades were stationed, was brutally shelled, leveled to the ground; the car that Olya had brought for them was destroyed, along with much of their necessary equipment. Fortunately, all the guys survived! But they went through real hell – to the extent that, during intense fighting, her husband recorded and sent Olya a video, saying goodbye to her and the children – because he was convinced he wouldn’t make it out alive… She can’t even begin to describe what she went through.
Now that he has returned from service, he supports her in her volunteering work – because, like no one else, he knows and understands how much volunteer help and support mean to the military.
“People often ask me – how have you not gotten tired or burned out over this time, what drives you to help? I just don’t understand – how can one not help?! How can one not assist those who are currently paying an incredible price for us to have each new peaceful day here, in the rear? Many of our warriors are buying essentials with their hard-earned money, but this isn’t right, because the victory is not only for them but for all of us. Support from the rear is our duty. And it’s good that many people don’t tire of helping and remain concerned.
We must help – as much as our strength allows, we cannot stop! Because otherwise, it won’t work. Otherwise, we won’t achieve victory. After all, victory is not just what’s at the end, but every day we don’t give up and survive”.
Volunteer Day – An Everyday Reality That Changes the Nation!
Volunteering brings incredible emotions! Seeing the grateful eyes of soldiers as they get behind the wheel of a car they desperately need; when you can help a large family in need of support; when you deliver aid to an orphanage and cry in the warmest child’s embrace in the world…
The realization that you – an ordinary person – can change someone’s life for the better is uplifting, it’s inspiring! You understand that you’re not living this life in vain. There isn’t a volunteer who hasn’t experienced a Miracle – and it’s the most inspiring thing.
“I didn’t realize before how much I love our Ukraine, how deeply I’m rooted in it. When the full-scale invasion started, many friends from different countries called me – come over here, to us – to Canada, Germany, Spain… I say, no – I will stay here, in Ukraine, and help. I am happy to be here now, where I belong”.
War as a litmus test – we all found out who we really are, saw everyone in their true light… With some of the former friends, paths have diverged, while others help with all their might: and it’s so comforting to know that there are many such people, that there are more of them! Ukraine is a country of volunteers. We all understood this from the first days of the large-scale invasion, when everyone tried to help however they could, everyone wanted to be useful.
There are many people with golden hearts in our country, and many of them have chosen volunteering as their cause and way of life.
Searching the world for bulletproof vests, drones, and thermal imagers for Ukrainian defenders, buying cars and starlinks, knitting camouflage nets, cooking tons of treats and delivering them to the front line, finding necessary medications, donating blood for the wounded, rescuing “tails”, helping those whose normal life was stolen by war…
And so – every day! Volunteer Day is not just a holiday on the calendar, but an everyday reality that changes lives and the country! Volunteer Day is not just December 5th, every day is Volunteer Day! Just like every day is a day for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, because we can’t do without them! Thank you to the Ukrainian defenders for every day, every minute of our freedom! I understand that even after victory, there will be a lot of work waiting for us – and I’m ready to tackle it!
Happy Volunteer Day, brothers and sisters in volunteering! Let’s not be afraid, let’s move forward! Today, we have come one day closer to our Victory!
