From Ohio With Love's Fundraiser
Support Psychological Recovery in Ukraine
Support sustained psychological wellbeing in Ukraine with healing retreats
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 from abroad.
The third year of the full scale invasion of 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 homes and villages, and the need for healing is as desperate as it has ever been. Amongst this all, a reality materializes -- that Ukraine is a truly free, sovereign, and democratic nation in the thick of its greatest cultural renaissance.
Grassroots American support campaign FROM OHIO WITH LOVE continues it's mission of supporting civilians of Ukraine by teaming up with Creative Residence MC6 in Slavske, Lviv Oblast, to host two unique events : the twice annual Vidnova Therapeutic Retreat, [UPCOMING 20-25 January 2025] for aid in the psychological recovery of wounded defenders of Ukraine, and the annual Carpathian Spring Cultural Festival, [UPCOMING 30 May-1 June 2025] a pan-Ukrainian artist & activist summit.
Over the course of 2023 & 2024 these two separate events took shape and have seen 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 (Eng. "Restoration"/"Renewal") - 20-25 Nov 2024, 22-23 April 2024, 2-6 Nov 2023 - A five day psychotherapeutic retreat. Active duty and veteran defenders are welcomed to the mountain facilities of MC6. They are given access to psychological counsel, legal counsel, movement therapy, art & music therapy, endless miles of hiking trails, room and board, three wholesome meals a day, and a team of community volunteers and artists-in-residence present to help foster a space of empathy and conscious interaction. Vidnova gives individuals who have put their lives at risk an opportunity for mental and spiritual restoration after the war has often taken such significant tolls on them.
Reviews from 2-6 November 2023:
"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, 24-26 May 2024 - 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.
LOGISTICS:
Every event, whether the twice annual Vidnova or the once annual Carpathian Spring, costs between $7500-10,000 USD to produce. This covers transportation costs for participants and volunteers, as well as food, lodging and accommodation costs, counselor fees, artist honorariums, and the costs of materials for workshops. Any leftover funds fold over into the next event.