Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska summarized the results of that year in her field of work, noting the importance of cultural diplomacy during the war.
“At the beginning of the Russian invasion, few people thought that now was precisely the time for culture. The first priority was to survive physically. Starting with the museums, I saw how they destroy our museums, I saw how the Russians looted Kherson’s museums, and worst of all, they killed the people who created this culture After that, the answer to the question, “Is this the age of culture?” It’s not debatable. It’s about time. Maybe more than ever. we are the culturesaid the president’s wife.
The First Lady spoke of a cultural project that had been planned during peacetime but acquired new meaning during the Ukrainian resistance to the invaders.
This is especially the Ukrainian bookshelf.
“The Ukrainian bookshelf project was conceived even before the invasion. There was an idea to introduce our literature, philosophy and history to the wider world through the main library. It also became clear that the ‘shelf’ would gain strategic importance. Our literature has also become a symbol of Ukrainian invincibility. And books arouse interest in the world, and we must respond. “ Zelenska said.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the Ukrainian Library Institute, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee and the Kyiv School. The Economic and Philanthropic Foundation (KSE Foundation) provides The Shelf with high-quality, up-to-date publications on Ukrainian history, philosophy and other literature.
Currently, Ukrainian bookshelf projects are implemented in 27 countries: Austria, Turkey, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Greece, Latvia, Finland, Jordan, Croatia, Lebanon, Japan, Belgium, Albania. increase. South Korea, Germany, Qatar, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Norway, Moldova, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan.
The First Lady of Ukraine personally donated books from the KSE Foundation for Ukrainian Bookshelves at the Mazovia Central Library (Warsaw, Poland), the National Library of France (Paris) and the Frankfurt Central Library (Germany). .
Another cultural project sponsored by the First Lady is the introduction of audio guides in Ukrainian to some of the world’s leading historical and cultural attractions and museums. Today, the number of Ukrainian audio guides reaches 54 in 35 countries.
In particular, Ukrainian guides appeared on excursions to the National Museum of the Czech Republic, the Immigration Museum in São Paulo (Brazil), Schönbrunn Palace (Austria), Gobustan National Historical and Cultural Reserve (Azerbaijan), St. Martin’s Church.Cathedral (Slovakia), Oslo City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Norway), National Museum of Lithuania’s Grand Duke’s Palace (Lithuania), Uluwatu Temple in Bali (Indonesia), Qatar National Museum and more
“Now this is not only a tourism option, but also a civilization option. Our words should be heard where the Ukrainians are, where the war has taken them. The language itself is already an ambassador for Ukraine and our resistance, the First Lady is convinced – so let’s not go next year: the Louvre and Orsay museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the MoMA, London. The British Museum and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Acropolis Museum, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Vatican Museums and many others.”
Zelenska also spoke about the cultural diplomacy project launched for the war and the needs of Ukrainians.
This is in particular an initiative created under the auspices of Books Without Borders – First Lady, within the framework of which publications based on the layout of Ukrainian publishers will be printed and temporary immigrants across Europe It will be distributed to children in Ukraine.
The goal of the project is to minimize barriers to education, reduce anxiety among young Ukrainians trying to adjust to a new life in an unfamiliar country, and provide a physical connection with home. is to
In total, more than 280,000 copies have been printed within the framework of the Books Without Borders project. A total of 20 countries have joined the initiative: Poland, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, Ireland, Germany, Bulgaria, Latvia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, UK, Turkey, Moldova, Netherlands, Japan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Finland and Hungary. .
“Where there are Ukrainians, there is Ukrainian literature. We call this project ‘Books without Borders’. Because Ukrainian books travel with Ukrainians to any country that is needed. We cannot yet bring temporary immigrants back to their homes, their homes – it is still dangerous. “ said the president’s wife.
Another war-based cultural diplomacy project, Better Time Stories, is a non-profit initiative that helps Ukrainian children displaced from their homes by the war. The goal of this project is to help the youngest children (from age 3 to her age 7) overcome grief, integrate into the host country environment and keep in touch with relatives at home thanks to books. is.
Within the framework of this initiative, forcibly displaced Ukrainian children will receive original and translated audio versions (in Ukrainian and host country languages), as well as the possibility to record individual audio versions. You will receive a set of 5 picture books with For each child whose father or other relatives remained in Ukraine.
This project was started by Interactive Kids Stories (iKs). Its founder is the Ukrainian entrepreneur Andriy Smychalski and the foundation of the Dutch Princess Laurentien. Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, German First Lady Elke Budenbender and Austrian First Lady Doris Schmidauer became patrons of the project. The initiative is implemented in her four countries: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium.
“Family reading, where mom or dad picks up a book and reads it aloud, is a true ritual not only in Ukraine, but in all reading countries. It’s an immediate product, and hearing a book in a native voice is the first step towards finally meeting and coming together.” Zelenska said.
The First Lady said the cultural diplomacy project will continue to develop in 2023.
“This is a sign that our culture is an important part of the world, without which the world would be poorer. It should be supportive.” said the president’s wife.
