“WOMAN AS A REPOSITORY OF HARMONY IN THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY”: 12TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WFWP CONFERENCE IN UKRAINE
Editor’s Note: While our focus is primarily on national activities in the United States, every now and then we highlight international events organized by one of the many active chapters of the Women’s Federation for World Peace around the world.
WFWP Ukraine has been hosting international conferences for the past 12 years and developed an incredible network of influential and like-minded ladies, and for their most recent conference WFWP USA President Angelika Selle prepared a special video message that was broadcast to the attendees. Read on to discover more about WFWP Ukraine and watch President Selle’s message.
The 12th Annual International Conference in Ukraine was held on May 13th, 2019 in the capital city of Kiev. Titled "Woman as a repository of harmony in the family and society", the conference was organized by WFWP Ukraine in cooperation with the public charity platform “People help people” and Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University.
Participants included about 550 people from different parts of Ukraine. Around 100 of these participants were new contacts, while the majority were WFWP members and existing contacts of WFWP Ukraine, our partners and friends. Several high-level dignitaries such as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine Committee on Health Care and city mayors were in attendance, and international participants from Japan, Spain and Lithuania traveled to Kiev to attend this event.
The goals of the conference included empowering the diverse participants, representatives of government, civil society, education, business, culture and more, with the ideals and values of WFWP - in particular the promotion of families and youth - and strengthening the foundation for the Global Women’s Peace Network in Ukraine, Europe and the rest of the world.
Angelika Selle's address on screen
Additionally, the conference highlighted the past year of activities by WFWP Ukraine, and served to enhance the WFWP network in the country with new members as well as increase cooperation with existing partners.
A representative of WFWP Japan read the welcoming address from the WFWP International President Julia Moon to kick off the conference. The main speakers were Mrs. Marcia de Abreu, WFWP Spain President, Mrs. Tetiana Kotseba, WFWP Ukraine head of the board, and Mrs. Omori Nobuko, an overseas volunteer for Ukraine. This was followed by the message from WFWP USA President Angelika Selle, which was played on screen.
Traditionally, the event includes the annual Woman of the Year award ceremony. With this award we recognize women who have made a significant contribution in social, political, educational and other areas. This year nine Ukrainian ladies who had distinguished themselves received this award in the following categories: “Woman-state figure", "Woman-artist", "Woman-public figure", “Woman-educator", “Woman-scientist" and others.
Women were not the only ones to be recognized. There was also an award ceremony for the winners of the children's creative competition, related to Mother’s Day.
Tetiana's speech
Towards the end of the program, the atmosphere was lively with musical performances and a lottery with fun prizes rounded things off.
While the conference itself was already a resounding success, there were additional events surrounding the main event which brought excitement to participants. A day prior, on May 12th, WFWP Ukraine celebrated International Mother’s Day with the Kiev city administration, and on May 15th, based on their long-term cooperation with the government, WFWP Ukraine organized a round table session in the parliament, together with the Parliament Health Care Committee.