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I was born on November 25, 1957, in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region (currently occupied territory). I hold a degree in Philology from Kharkiv University and postgraduate academic training from the Kyiv Pedagogical Institute. My scholarly work focused on a comparative analysis of Ukrainian and Russian Futurism, under the influence of prominent scholar Hryhorii Hrabovych. Since the late 1980s, I have actively engaged in civic and cultural activism. I was among the first to initiate public actions in Kharkiv advocating for Ukrainian cultural revival, the reburial of Vasyl Stus, and the legalization of national symbols. In 1988, I co-founded the Kharkiv Literary Museum, where I continue to work today. I have curated or co-authored over three decades of exhibitions, including “Ukrainian Golgotha” (1991), the first museum exhibition in Ukraine dedicated to repressed writers of the 1920s. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, I remained involved in grassroots civic initiatives, cultural preservation, and educational work, including teaching Ukrainian studies at the Kharkiv Air Force Institute. I am a long-standing member of the Political Council of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists and served as senior coordinator of St. Dmytrii Church (UGCC) for over 20 years, integrating cultural, interfaith, and social programs into community life. I have participated in all major civic movements of modern Ukraine: the Orange Revolution (2004), the “Christmas Together” project (Kharkiv–Lviv), the Revolution of Dignity (2013–2014), and later local resistance to separatist movements in Kharkiv. I organized volunteer aid for border troops and coordinated community-level support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. From 2015 to 2022, I co-led the educational initiative “Rejoicing Together” with students of the Ukrainian Catholic University, providing monthly cultural and civic education programs in frontline villages of Eastern Ukraine. Following the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, I led evacuation efforts in Kharkiv, established humanitarian support for civilians and military units, and launched mobile educational and cultural programs for war-affected communities in frontline and recently de-occupied villages. In July 2022, I founded and currently lead the NGO “Volunteer Association Dobrochynets”. Our organization delivers humanitarian and psychological support, promotes local culture, and implements educational and artistic programs in collaboration with: • Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU, Lviv) • Ukrainian Educational Platform (UOP) • BookForum • Kharkiv Literary Museum • Frontiere di Pace (Italy) I am deeply committed to the idea of “Small Centers of the World” by Krzysztof Czyżewski, which prioritizes community-based development rooted in dignity, cultural dialogue, and local identity. I believe this model is particularly relevant for Ukraine’s postwar recovery, especially in borderland and previously neglected territories. My experience in cultural management, civic education, community engagement, and volunteer coordination allows me to meaningfully contribute to long-term resilience and reconciliation efforts across diverse Ukrainian regions.

Together with like-minded partners, we founded the NGO Impulse of the City — our own Small Center of the World, where we invest our en- ergy, experience, and hope every single day. In our small borderland town — shaped by the intertwined cultures of Ukrainians, Hungarians, Roma, Jews, Romanians, and Slovaks — we are building an intercultural space of uni- ty, dialogue, and mutual support. For us, culture is not only about leisure, but about shared action and commu- nity strength. Impulse of the City brings together artists, volunteers, educators, activists, and caring citizens. We organize concerts, art actions, memorial events, eco-picnics, literary readings, and workshops for all gen- erations. Most importantly, we are creating a space where everyone can be heard and involved in cultural life. We believe that the true power of culture lies in small centers — where great meaning is born within small communities. Where creativity and humanity sustain us through even the hardest times. The motto of our city is simple: “Vynohradiv — the Sun of Zakarpattia.” And it’s true — not only because of our mild climate, but above all, because of the atmosphere of warmth, sincerity, and openness. In Vynohradiv, people will gladly tell you about their homeland, offer you homemade wine, and support you with kind words and actions. This is a city built not on facades, but on people. One of our community’s greatest treasures is its creative spirit. Vynohradiv is rich in artistic heritage — but equally important is what we are creating today, here and now.

I work with soundscapes, capturing ambient sounds to create original audio productions and acoustic performances. Over the past three years, I have produced a series of poetic audiobooks, sound performances, and experimental documentaries featuring major Ukrainian poets such as Bohdana Matiyash, Iryna Starovoyt, Halyna Kruk, and Kateryna Mikhalitsyna. During my residency in Krasnogruda (July 2025), I was developing the sound project Voice of Antonych — an acoustic libretto based on the life and poetry of Bohdan-Ihor Antonych. Drawing from archival materials, field recordings from Antonych’s hometown in Bortiatyn (Ukraine) and Lemko villages in Poland, I am building a poetic and sonic narrative that will become a documentary performance. This project is part of my broader artistic philosophy of the “Small World in Motion” — an idea of rooted, local places becoming universal meeting points through memory, creativity, and dialogue. Inspired by Krzysztof Czyżewski’s concept of the Borderland (Pogranicze), and cultural work in the Carpathians and Sejny, I explore “small worlds” in motion — through rivers, forests, voices, archives, and live performance. My practice weaves together multiple projects: Voices of Rivers (a Polish-Ukrainian poetry and sound ritual), The Hutsul-Indian World of Paraska Plytka-Horytswit (a poetic documentary and intergenerational village celebration), and Following Czyżewski’s Footsteps in the Lemko Borderland (a research-based initiative to create a new Small Centre of the World in Nowica). For me, culture is not a reconstruction of the past, but a living movement of memory toward the future.

I work in the fields of literary journalism, cultural reporting, storytelling, and documentary photography. I’m a Gaude Polonia Fellow (Ministry of Culture of Poland, 2021) and the winner of the Maik Yohansen Art Journalism Competition. My work has appeared in The Ukrainians, Reporters, Local History, Zbruch, Kultura Enter, Tyzhden.ua, and Ukrayinska Pravda. My journalistic and literary focus includes Roma culture and identity, intercultural dialogue, and local memory. I have taken part in numerous international residencies and festivals, including SpilnoART, FAI- AR Marseille, Bruno Schulz Festival, and Konteksty (Sokołowsko). I am the author of several documentary photography projects: • Romskyi Dim: Community Life in Drohobych – exhibited in Ukraine and Poland (2020–2021) • A House in Massilia – street photography from Marseille (2020), presented in Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro. I am co-founder of the cultural NGO Dro.ART and co-organizer of the Jazz Bez international jazz festival in Drohobych, alongside my husband, artist Oleksandr Maksymov. I have also served as cultural manager for French Spring in Lviv and the Month of Author’s Readings literary festival. My work bridges journalism, literature, and visual storytelling, amplifying marginalized voices and celebrating local cultural diversity. A small center of the universe for me is the opportunity to sit on my balcony and look at a piece of the game fluttering on the horizon. They are the whole essence.

I have been working as a librarian since 2015. Before that, I was a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature at a local school. My small center of the world is my village library – the only cultural hub in our village. Before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the library was a true cultural space: a cozy corner and an open, welcoming place for everyone, regardless of political views or religious beliefs. From March to September 2022, our village of Kapytolivka was under Russian occupation, and soldiers were living in the library building. They left behind complete destruction: shattered windows, no electricity, and almost total devastation of the book collection and the local history archive. However, already in March 2023, the library resumed its work thanks to international grants and projects. Today, it is a modern, barrier-free space that meets the needs of the community — providing access to cultural and educational events, informal learning, psychological support, and certain types of humanitarian aid for the local population. Our village was also home to the well-known Ukrainian poet and writer Volodymyr Vakulenko, who was tortured and killed by the occupiers in 2022. Today, his books and publications are preserved in our library, and a memorial mural in his honor has been created at the entrance to the village.

I work at the intersection of journalism, memory culture, and the development of small communities. I initiate and implement projects that restore historical heritage, support civil society, and foster dialogue within local communities. My Small Center of the World is the editorial office in the city of Hadyach, Poltava region — a place where the community gathers, a space for discussing ideas and shaping a shared future. I’m ANNA SABO – head of Communications and Marketing at the NGO «Building Ukraine Together» (BUR). I’m responsible for strategic communications, brand development, media relations, and information partnerships. With many years of experience in marketing and communications in the business sector, I now use that background to take a systematic approach to developing communication processes in the nonprofit space. I’ve always worked – and will continue to work – in organizations that share my values. My center of the world is people and the meaningful impact we manage to make for society. It’s important for me to be useful and to create large-scale changes that improve lives. That’s exactly why I’m with BUR, whose work focuses on youth development through volunteering and informal education. Outside of work, I’m passionate about reptiles and dream of creating a Rehabilitation center for these amazing creatures – a place where they can get care and protection.

Our community of like-minded people researches and preserves cultural heritage. We have restored a traditional clay-and-straw house (hata-mazanka), collect antique household items, and organize educational events and workshops where we pass down experience, history, and culture through everyday objects, clothing, traditions, rituals, crafts, and dialect language.

My name is Yulia Beretska, and I’m 26 years old. I love drawing, taking photos, summer mornings, cats, and interacting with people — especially when they laugh at my jokes. I was born in Vinnytsia, but for several years after the start of the full-scale war, I have been living in Przemysl, a city on the border with Ukraine. For several years, I’ve been working with the Association of Ukrainians in Poland, Przemyśl Branch. This organization is my safe place. We have a building called the Ukrainian House, which has been welcoming the Ukrainian community for over 120 years.

I’m Žygimantas Buržinskas. I’m a project manager and project participant for reconstructions of historical buildings. My work experience in the field of culture: 2013-2014 Museum of Church Heritage; have been working at the Merkinė Regional Museum since 2014. I’m the author of the book "Historical Merkinė Town Hall" (2015), compiler of the album "Merkinė city and region in historical cartography" (2021), author of various articles on the history of Merkinė and the architecture of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. My research areas: Architectural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, history and urban development of the city of Merkinė, heritage of East Prussia. Research on the identity of Lithuanian cities and towns.

I am Ana Patchikashvili, 37 years, from Georgia. I am public administration specialist, researcher, and community development practitioner from Zinobiani, Georgia, with a strong focus on cultural heritage and minority rights. I am an active member of the Udi ethnic community and a dedicated advocate for inclusive, grassroots-led development. I hold a Master’s degree in Public Administration and have over a decade of experience working with local governments, NGOs, and international organizations. I served as a regional coordinator for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in the Kakheti region, where I collaborated with municipal authorities, youth councils, and civil society to promote gender equality, civic participation, and accountable governance. I also worked with Transparency International Georgia, contributing to anti-corruption monitoring, policy advocacy, and community outreach in rural and minority-populated areas. As a founding member of the community organization Founders of Georgia’s Udis, I have led projects focused on restoring historical memory and strengthening cultural identity. My work has included the creation of a memorial to Udi leader Zinob Silikashvili, the establishment of the Zinobiani Ethnographic Museum and a children's library, and ongoing efforts to preserve and restore traditional Udi homes. With support from the European Union, UNDP, and the Tolerance Center under the Public Defender, I continue to position Zinobiani as a living example of multicultural resilience.

I’m Algimantas Rokas Černiauskas - a versatile Lithuanian artist renowned for my multidisciplinary approach, encompassing painting, music production, performance art, and critical analysis. As a member of the Lithuanian Artist Association, I actively contribute to the development of contemporary art and culture in Lithuania. My work often explores the intersections of visual arts and music, reflecting a deep engagement with both mediums. Additionally, I am dedicated to fostering regional artistic communities by organizing contemporary art festivals away from big cities, aiming to promote local talent and bring innovative cultural experiences to underserved areas. My role as curator, critic, and educator highlights my commitment to fostering artistic dialogue and innovation within both Lithuanian and international contexts.

My name is Kinga Wiśniewska. I am President of the Association of Grassroots Activities ”RzeczJasna”. Lawyer by education, graduate of the 13th edition of the PAFW Leaders Program, Two Sectors One Vision Program (PwC and School of Leaders), Tutoring Academy, and the Innovation Designers program (Google x PFR). I have over 18 years of experience as a trainer and consultant, specializing in strategic communication, fundraising, new technologies, project management, and public relations. An expert evaluator for FIO, NOWEFIO, PROO, and the Regional Operational Program of Warmia and Mazury. I have managed projects with combined budgets totaling several million PLN, collaborating with local governments, public institutions, and media. Active participant in numerous national and European civic initiatives, I possess extensive experience in team management, media cooperation, event organization, promotional and advocacy activities, digital content creation, and communication effectiveness analysis. Co-founder of RzeczJasna TV – the first social online TV channel in the region, which has produced over 1000 video materials since 2016.

I’m Anna Sabo - head of Communications and Marketing at the NGO «Building Ukraine Together» (BUR). I’m responsible for strategic communications, brand development, media relations, and information partnerships. With many years of experience in marketing and communications in the business sector, I now use that background to take a systematic approach to developing communication processes in the nonprofit space. Outside of work, I’m passionate about reptiles and dream of creating a Rehabilitation center for these amazing creatures – a place where they can get care and protection.

My name is Larysa Babicheva. I am a librarian by training and director of the Pavlohrad Central Library System (Dnipropetrovsk region). I am also a board member of the NGO Center for Innovative Development "Persona". A graduate of the Dnipro Faculty of Management and Business of the Kyiv University of Culture. I have led and coordinated numerous social and cultural projects in my community. I also work with various user groups – children, youth, and adults – and I am a volunteer and partner of the civic team Syla Idei (The Power of Ideas).

I’m Svitlana Novikova - head of the NGO “Ridnyi Krai Hadyachchyna”, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Ridnyi Krai (Hadyach, Ukraine). I am a journalist, editor, and civic activist with over ten years of experience in developing local culture, preserving historical memory, and strengthening civil society in the small town of Hadyach in Poltava region. My work is aimed at empowering small communities as vibrant centers of cultural and social life. In 2022, in response to the full-scale Russian invasion, our team revived the historical newspaper Ridnyi Krai. Newspaper of the Hadyach Zemstvo, once edited by the prominent Ukrainian figure Olena Pchilka. Today, the newspaper serves as a media platform uniting the community around essential themes: volunteerism, support for the military, local history, genealogical memory, and Ukrainian cultural identity.

I was born and raised in Germany in a family that emigrated from Kyiv to Germany at the beginning of the 90s. I studied Physics and obtained a PhD in digital humanities, researching metaphors in language with data analytic methods. Starting from June 2022, I regularly commuted between Leipzig and Kyiv and was introduced to civil society networks forming around informal adult education in Ukraine. Since September 2024 I moved to Ukraine and am teaching at the American University Kyiv and the Kyiv School of Economics. Besides that, together with two Ukrainian friends, we found the organization: "Center for Transformative Research - The Third Floor", which this summer is organizing it's second summer school in Uzhhorod, Ukraine. We would like to form a place and a community in which research is not separated from action.

My name is Shahane Khachikyan, and I’m from the southern part of Armenia, an area which is known as the sun-kissed corner of my country. It lies near the border, in a place called Meghri. I was born and raised there, in the oldest house in the town, built in 1820. According to family history, though, the foundation of the house dates back over 400 years. The house had a huge balcony that once hosted musicians, artists, scientists, and all kinds of visitors to Meghri. But after my father's passing, that vibrant space fell silent. So, in 2019, I founded the Meghri-Kayan NGO, with a mission and vision to promote Meghri and the wider Syunik region. Our goal is to develop and highlight spaces that are important for education, culture, and tourism, reviving forgotten places and creating new opportunities for connection and growth. The very first step was to breathe new life into our historic balcony. I repainted it, restoring its spirit and purpose. And the result? It became the heart of everything.Now, I am no longer just Shahane Khachikyan, but I am Shahane of Meghri, welcoming everyone to Khachats Toon Heritage Hotel. This place is not just a spot to sleep and have breakfast. It has become a space for meaningful connections, for collaboration, for inspiration, and for new beginnings

My name is Oksana Astrakhantseva, I’m 41 years old and I’m a volunteer at the NGO “VA Dobrochynets”, responsible for organizing and supplying equipment and essentials for the military. Actively involved in implementing cultural and educational projects in cooperation with de-occupied communities. I have higher technical education. Regional Development Manager at Dolyna-17 LLC (Kharkiv region). For over 15 years, has built long-term partnerships with farms and agricultural enterprises across the region. In 2024, with support from the Strong Ukraine Support Fund and in partnership with the Kharkiv Literary Museum, I co-created and implemented the project “Home Is Where Your Footprints Are. Library in Kapytylivka”. The initiative focused on rebuilding community ties, rediscovering identity, and creating an inclusive space with film screenings (in partnership with Docudays) and much more.

My name is Michał Borkowski and I’m a cultural entrepreneur, project manager, and founder of KarpatArt Foundation, which harnesses the potential of Carpathian cultural heritage to promote hospitality, openness, and democratic community building. A UCL alumnus and Beyond Borders Academy graduate, I specialize in international cooperation across Eastern Europe, organizing festivals, cultural events, and cross-border initiatives. My small center of the world is the Sądecki Beskids and Poprad Valley, where I initiated Grajdół art festival and regularly create cultural bridges between local communities and global perspectives. Through my work, I combine local authenticity with international collaboration, fostering sustainable cultural development in mountain regions.

My name is Chaykovska Tetyana, and I was born on October 24, 2006. I live in the village of Ivanchukivka, in the Izium district of Kharkiv region. I am engaged in creative work and currently work at our village library. Ivanchukivka is a small village in Kharkiv Oblast, located within Izium Raion. Since the invasion, cultural life here—like in many frontline or near-frontline communities—has been deeply disrupted. Some institutions were temporarily closed or repurposed to meet humanitarian needs, and many local initiatives were put on hold. Despite these challenges, efforts to preserve and revive cultural life continue. I am proud to be part of this ongoing work.

Yevheniia Nesterovych is based in Lviv, Ukraine, born and raised in Hadyach, Poltava region. Yevheniia studied literary theory and creative writing at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and wrote her postgraduate study about the digital shift in literature communication at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv under the guidance of Prof. Iryna Starovoyt. Between 2008 and 2022, Yevheniia worked as an assistant producer and PR manager on various projects in Ukraine and abroad. She was also co-editor in the art & culture department of Zbruc.eu online magazine (2013-2018), program director at Art Council Dialogue NGO (2015-2021), and program coordinator at Czech Centre Kyiv (2020-2022), still writes as a critic and author for various independent media. As of May 2022, she now leads the Post Bellum Ukraine NGO team, collecting oral history interviews for the Memory of Nations public archive. In 2014 Nesterovych won the II Award for the best interview in the Open Journalism Competition TEXT. In 2016 she got the I Award for the V Art Criticism Contest at Stedley Art Foundation. In 2016 Meridian Czernowitz PH published the book “Summa”, based on a long-form interview of Yevheniia Nesterovych with Yurii Izdryk. „During the residency, I first of all enjoyed the healing silence and nature of the Borderland. I really needed this open space to look back on everything I had written and done in recent years. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, I have been forced to work more as a manager than as a writer. Some of my essays have been published in Dwutygodnik, others have been included in collections of criticism; but many ideas, especially fiction, have remained in the form of short dotted notes in the margins of the intensive work of building the Ukrainian branch of the international oral history archive memoryofnations.eu. For the past three years I have headed the NGO Post Bellum - Ukraine, and during that time we have collected nearly two hundred testimonies, created two films, an international exhibition and a number of media projects.