Hartuis! July 1, 1948 - July 1, 2023 -Happy 75th Anniversary to the Ukrainian Youth Association in Great Britain!
On this historic day, more than two thousand people gathered for the Ukrainian Youth Association’s Krayoviy Zdvyh to remember and honour our founders of the UYA in Great Britain, and all our past and present members.
At midday CYMivtsi, guests, and friends gathered at the Tarasivka Chapel for the opening ceremony. Prayers were led by our Kapelyan o. Evhen Nebesniak and Protopresbyter Bohdan Matwijczuk. Heather Wheeler, MP of South Derbyshire, was in attendance and read a short speech. The Nakaz and a short poem were read by CYM members from Oseredok Derby and was followed by a moment of silence. This added a sense of remembrance and celebration as we acknowledged the challenges our Ukrainian culture and history has faced and still faces today, because of Russia's illegal full-scale war in Ukraine.
Other guests in attendance were ex-CYM chairs Roman Panas and Vlodko Szlachetko, archpriest Mykola Matwijiwskij, o. Davyd Senyk, o. Dovbeniuk, o. Mazur, The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) Chair Petro Rewko, and The Association of Ukrainian Women in Great Britain (AUW) Chair Iryna Terlecky.
Anna Fedeczko – the newly elected Chair of the UYA GB addressed the crowds to thank everyone who has been involved and contributed to UYA activity over the last 75 years, making our parents and grandparents proud for continuing what they started, and ending with a call to sing Mnohaya Lita!
Later in the afternoon, the UYA competition and concert began in the marquee. Everyone was entertained by the best talents of traditional Ukrainian music, culture, poetry, and dance in Great Britain, as the winners from the UYA regional rallies competed against each other in a spectacular display of talent!
Elsewhere at Tarasivka guests were able to enjoy browsing the craft stalls at the Ukrainian market, visiting the UYA stall to buy uniform supplies and pick up information leaflets, lunch on varennyky and borshcht from our kitchen or simply enjoy the atmosphere with family and friends.
We finished Kayoviy Zdvyh with an evening of live music from ‘Topolya’, a British-Ukrainian band who formed at Tarasivka during the yearly UYA summer camps a few years ago, Halyna Balanban a pop singer and participant in the TV festival "halytskyi shlyager" and modern Ukrainian DJ’s ‘Vechornytsi London’.
We had a fantastic day, and together we created many happy memories, as well as remembered why we all come together to celebrate and honour Ukraine!
With thanks to our Zdvyh planning committee, Marian Kosmirak for being Komandant of Zdvyh, and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the day a roaring success.
Honor of Ukraine! Ready to defend!