Boom of National Pride

Boom of National Pride

This week has been especially important to me in terms of the feeling about Ukraine. First, I was blown away by some negative news from back home. While the amount of money people have been earning stayed the same, prices went up by approximately 90%. That means that whatever anyone was able to purchase, even in terms of elementary food products, diminished by two. There are projections that it will be that way and even worse for about 3 years. Moreover, who knows how quickly the economy will recover afterwards. And these are only the mildest effects. At the same time, sharing some positive news with you, I was overwhelmed by the amount of national pride young Ukrainians, who live abroad have, and the way in which they convey it to the world.

First of all, I will tell you about the presentation of Ukrainian students at the American University in Bulgaria during the International Week. Then I will share with you the unique story of Evheniia Melekhovets and her creative work that has helped the world to know what exactly is happening in Ukraine.

Saturday, February 21, 2015 was a long – awaited day at the American University in Bulgaria. The Taste Fest. Almost each of the nationalities represented at the university prepared dishes from their home countries and then presented them in front of the whole university and offered to taste them.  Each year, many students are as passionate about going at the event and trying various dishes, as the ones preparing them are.

Although, it is not an event solely about food. It is a way to present students’ national identity, customs and traditions, dances and much more. This is the day, when students at AUBG can take out their national costumes from the closets and proudly wear them around. This year, it was the day, when Ukrainians showed how talented they are. One more time, they proved that Ukrainians traditions are special and beautiful. Eight Ukrainian students prepared traditional dishes that everyone else could try and presented the national dance. The whole university clapped vigorously, while five Ukrainian girls and one boy moved proudly in the rhythm of the famous national song. Their dance, their energy and smiles gave me goosebumps. I was fascinated by the beauty those students have brought to the campus that day.

Here are some of the pictures from the event as well as the video of Ukrainian students performing the national dance.

Now, moving to another part of Europe, I would like to tell you the story of Evheniia Melekhovets , Ukrainian student, who is currently studying Contemporary Typographic Media in London. At the moment of the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict Ev (this is how people call the girl) was in Paris. Moreover, she has been a part of the European Youth Parliament, and this is how I met her. I remember, one day going on Facebook and seeing infographics, made by her, about what was happening in Ukraine.

She has seen everything with her eyes when she came for a couple of days to Maidan. When she came back to continue her studies in Paris, she felt very bad because she wasn’t in Ukraine with her friends and her people in such hard times. This is when her mother explained to her that, if you want to help, the only way to do it is through something, which you are really good at. So the girl started creating pamphlets, small brochures and other materials, which explained the situation in Ukraine to foreigners.

Ev on the Euromaidan, Paris. February 2014. Photo by Youry Bilak

I have been thinking a lot about how much potential Ukrainian people have and it seems that only right now people outside Ukraine can see that as well. In the time of economic hardship, when it is impossible to find simple butter or oil in the store, somewhere, on the other side of the war, dynamic positive changes take place. When I first went back to Ukraine a year and a half ago, I felt the beginning of those turbulent times. Our generation has an exceptional opportunity to be a part of such fascinating history. The history that has always been created on the grounds of Ukrainian power and patience. Today, the history that has reached the moment, when the patience is no longer applicable, and the only way to finally change something is to fight, not only on the military fields, but also in the information industry and media.

Ev has proven the point that today Ukraine is on its rise. She is in support of the current government and she has had a chance to interact with it through one way or another.Namely, once she was dealing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and she was deeply facinated by their professionalism. “Not to mention their recent rebranding which is such a moder nstep. I’m just proud of my government at moments like this.” Evheniia also mentions some ecological, environmental and projects that concern responsible usage of energy that are being implemented in Ukraine. “In terms of numbers the situation is no tthe best, but in terms of perspective, it is very promising,” – she shares.

Design by Ev Melekhovets

One of the surprising things that Ev has told me about was the time, when she has created “Who is who on the Eastern Front,” describing different characters of the conflict. “It was supposed to be a humoristic thing.” The next morning, after Evheniia posted her infographics on Facebook, her polish friend called her and said that she saw her work on the Polish TV. Although, it was not represented as HER work, but that of the ministry of the foreign affairs of Ukraine. They used her inforgaphics without even mentioning her name. The girl thinks that “it was amazing, as it made it to the media, but completely unprofessional” in the way it was done. First, because they basically stole her work, and second, because it was her subjective point of view, which was represented from the national point. Later, the Ministry apologized and reposted the work with the girl’s name on it.

While creating her works, Ev had some help from her friends, who were in Ukraine. They helped her with brainstorming, proof reading and just different ideas about her work. One of the things that I personally liked a lot was the “Euromaidanner’s Alphabet”, created by Ev about a year ago.

Design by Ev Melekhovets

First, started with just a few letter, with the help of her friend, Evheniia has created the whole Ukrainian alphabet with the illustrations that give authentic explanation to the revolution. “I love this project,”- she says. “I never translated it, because there is no way a foreigner will understand it.” True. Ukrainian language and culture is so unique, that there are things, simply incomprehensible to another culture. Perhaps this is the reason why Ukraine has survived so many hardships and still managed to be one of the most beautiful countries in Europe.

“I want to …” design by Ev Melekhovets. Visualization of what a Ukrainian girl really wants to see …

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