Support Psychological Recovery in Ukraine

From Ohio With Love is continuing its grassroots support efforts for Ukrainian defenders and everyday citizens by creating cultural support festivals and psychological retreats in the Carpathian mountains of western Ukraine-- and we can't continue without support abroad.

Over two years of full scale invasion in Ukraine. War fatigue and exhaustion are rife across the nation, physically and mentally wounded defenders return from the frontlines every day, citizens are under attack in their own homes, and the need for healing is as desperate as it has ever been. Amongst this all, a reality materializes -- that Ukraine is a free and sovereign nation in the thick of its greatest cultural renaissance.

Grassroots American support campaign FROM OHIO WITH LOVE continues it's mission of supporting the people of Ukraine by teaming up with Creative Residence MC6 in Slavske, Ukraine, to host two unique events : the second annual Carpathian Spring Cultural Festival, 24-26 May 2024, a pan-Ukrainian artist & activist summit, and the second annual Vidnova ("Restoration"/"Renewal") Therapeutic Retreat, 22-26 April 2024, for aid in the psychological recovery of wounded defenders of Ukraine.

Over the course of 2023 these two separate events took form and saw complete and total successes in bringing together citizens and defenders from every corner of Ukraine to celebrate the culture that is being fought for and to help treat defenders who have paid dearly for the existence of that culture.

Retrospective:

VIDNOVA ("Restoration"/"Renewal") - 2-6 November 2023 - 7 soldiers, 2 spouses, 1 medic, and the son of a soldier lost to the war were welcomed to the mountain facilities of MC6 for a five day psychotherapeutic retreat, where they were given access to psychological counsel, legal counsel, movement therapy, art & music therapy, energetic practices, endless miles of hiking trails, accommodating room and board, three square meals a day, the company of fellow defenders, and a team of ready and willing volunteers to help foster a comfortable and viable space of empathy, conscious interaction, and reintegration with civilians. Spirits were visibly renewed, and the event gave individuals who have put their lives at risk have an opportunity to be honoured and for their hearts and minds to be restored after the war has taken such significant tolls on them.

Reviews:

"The stay was beneficial, I began to approach people more, stopped putting off questions for tomorrow. The conversations you held were very useful, because people need to talk, hear advice, and listen to how others decide.”

“My state of tension went away. This event gave me a lot, moved me from a dead point. What more? What is less? All is enough. I participated in almost everything. Games for communication, art, conversations among the military.”

“It supported me a lot and pushed me to detach myself from myself. I let myself relax. After recovery, I lay tired and slept for a week. And the last two days I have strength again. I really feel better than before the trip.”

“The project inspired me, made me more disciplined, procrastination decreased many times. Everything was useful to me, both the conversations and the singing of the girls. Everything was cool.”

CARPATHIAN SPRING MC6 - 19-21 May 2023 - A music, arts, and cultural support festival at MC6. Musicians, lecturers, singing instructors, artisans, chefs, activists, writers, and visual artists traveled from all corners of Ukraine to represent a vast array of its cultures and present their works, highlighting the vibrant fabric of Ukrainian society through arts exhibitions and workshops. All proceeds from ticket sales went towards supporting the Vidnova program for defenders psychological recovery.

Every event, whether the twice annual Vidnova or the once annual Carpathian Spring, costs a total of $10,000 to produce. This covers transportation costs for participants and volunteers, food costs, lodging and accommodation costs, counselor fees, artist honorariums, and materials costs for workshops. Any leftover funds fold over into the next event.