Dear all,
Happy Saturday from Generation Ukraine! It is with great pleasure that I write this newsletter to introduce you to Katya Bokhynska, a woman who stands with Ukraine as a soldier in her beautiful way. For those who attended our brunch in Lviv, you met her in person; for those who did not, I encourage you to connect with her and explore the amazing work she does for herself and her country.
The full-scale war found Katya with a ticket to India and no job, as she had recently resigned and planned to volunteer to promote education in the remote regions of India. However, the reality changed: all flights were canceled, and Ukraine was in greater need of volunteers. Volunteering takes a considerable part of her day-to-day, bringing her meaning and motivation. Here, I would like to connect it with Anna Lissova’s advice since, as a psychotherapist, she mentioned it as a good way to deal with the reality of war.
Two years and two months after the invasion, Katya has offered significant help to her community and the front-line soldiers. Besides “renting” her house on Airbnb (many Canadians book with the prospect of coming when the war is over) and donating the money to the army, she spends her weekends organising types of equipment and assembling night vision cameras for the frontline. It runs in the family, as her Grandma volunteers as well. She dries beetroots, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables and together with other ingredients, she puts them in bags and sends them to the frontline so soldiers can add boiled water and have a warm borscht. She does that every single day.
But it does not end here: Katya is working with the NGO Algorytm, dedicated to sustainably growing the Volyn region by connecting and supporting entrepreneurs and creatives. Moreover, through this role, she also represents Ukraine abroad to raise awareness and financial aid in Ukraine. Their work can also be categorised under the title of Cultural Diplomacy, with a mission for Volyn to become the bridge between Ukraine and Europe for investments and to spread the quality of Ukrainian culture worldwide. This beautiful country should not only be known for the war but for its rich culture and creative and productive individuals.
You might wonder where she finds the mental strength and the physical ability to perform under so many hats; I did, too. Good sleep, healthy food, and enough water are her holy trinity. She also practises meditation three times a day or whenever she needs it and does traditional strength training to keep her body functional. When she loses her ability to sleep well, the bell that she needs to take a break rings. She recharges with yoga retreats in the Carpathians and usually chooses to join groups with people she does not know. It is her way to relax fully and rediscover herself. Recently, she also visited Bali to practise yoga for a week with a group of fifteen strangers. What is heartwarming in this is that when introductions were made, and during the course, nobody asked her about Ukraine, but as soon as it was over, her new friends asked her for ways to help her country – and they still support. People were careful and conscious and respected her need to be calm.
What is very important to Katya, and I co-sign, is the influence of other people. She has a strong community of friends who all take care of themselves and, at the same time, are available to help each other. This is the advice to all the women who read our newsletter: Take care of yourselves and have a mutual support circle. Remember that, as in aeroplanes with oxygen masks, you need to protect yourself first to be able to help others. You are enough in your own way. Her special tip to the Ukrainian women leaving abroad is to be proud Ukrainians because your country needs you. Promote Ukraine in your communities, and do not forget that you will always be welcome back.
As for us, we will stay in touch.
P.S. Katya also teaches a Communications course; you can enroll here and co-founded this cafe; make sure to stop by if you’re in Lutsk!
For her meditation guidance you can check this in English, and this in Ukrainian.
