On March 31, Parkovy Convention and Exhibition Center hosted “WE ARE”, an event dedicated to the 4th anniversary of NGO Zemliachky — an organization that systematically supports women service members of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. The event brought together women defenders, partners, ambassadors, and the team — those who have been by their side since the first months of the full-scale war, as well as those who joined later.
Over four years of work, the NGO Zemliachky team has fulfilled more than 31,000 individual requests from women service members, raised over UAH 255 million in support, and implemented dozens of systemic initiatives in the areas of equipment provision, psychological support, and advocacy.
The central part of the event was the immersive space “4 Years of the Journey,” which recreated the organization’s development — from the first requests and deliveries to systematic work with hundreds of appeals at the same time. The exhibition featured samples of women’s military uniforms from different stages, the “Golden Heart” award from the President of Ukraine, and a visual installation with the slag heaps of Donetsk region as a symbol of resilience.
The event was opened by Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy. The organization’s co-founders, Ksenia Drahaniuk and Andrii Kolesnyk, presented the results of their work and outlined the next directions of development. Among the speakers were Olha Rudnieva, CEO of Superhumans Center, Alona Zhyhura, Head of CSR at the Aurora chain, as well as servicewomen Khrystyna Kudriava and Yelyzaveta Komar.
During the event, the NGO Zemliachky team honored the organization’s long-term partners with its traditional award — a casing from an anti-aircraft gun. Parkovy also received a certificate of appreciation from NGO Zemliachky. The organization also introduced its new ambassadors: Anastasiia Tsymbalaru, Anna Bryzhan, Daniela Zaiushkina, and Kristina Muliar. The evening concluded with a performance by the enchanting Vivienne Mort.
The event took place in
Park Hall. As usual, the space was divided into two parts: in the main hall, speaker presentations were held on the permanent stage with theatre-style seating for guests, while the terrace with a panoramic view of the Dnipro was arranged as a catering area.
The next stage in the development of NGO Zemliachky is the institutionalization of approaches to supporting women in the military at the state level, the scaling of psychological rehabilitation programs for women defenders and veterans, and the development of a culture of gender equality within the Defense Forces.
Parkovy is grateful for the opportunity to be a venue where those who systematically support Ukrainian women defenders are recognized.
