Join us for a compelling panel discussion on the critical role that Ukrainian civil society has played in supporting the country’s wartime resistance. The event will feature insights from expert panelists who have been actively involved in humanitarian aid and media efforts amid the ongoing full-scale invasion. Panelists will discuss how Ukrainian civil society has adapted and responded to wartime challenges, highlighting both successes and struggles, touching on how state-society relations have shifted over the past two and a half years, and how this has impacted their work.
This event will be held in hybrid format. RSVP to attend in person. Register for the Zoom meeting.
Speakers
Ada Wordsworth, Co-Founder, The Kharkiv and Przemyśl Project (KHARPP) and PhD Candidate, UCL School of Slavic and East European Studies
Anna Serdiuk, Editor-in-Chief, Vilne Radio
Olga Nikolska, Culture of Philanthropy Development Program Director, ISAR Ednannia
Moderated by:
Emma Mateo, Postdoctoral Fellow, Jordan Center
Ada Wordsworth is a writer, researcher, and volunteer based between the UK and Ukraine. In 2022 she founded KHARPP, a UK registered charity focussed on home repairs in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. Currently she is also working on a PhD on Ukrainian Soviet-era cultural heritage at UCL. Her essays, features and reviews have been widely published, including in 1843, the Guardian, the Telegraph, Granta, and the NYRB.
Anna Serdiuk is the Editor-in-Chief of Vilne Radio, a media outlet originally based in Donetsk oblast, now working remotely due to the conflict. Vilne Radio plays a crucial role in providing vital information to refugees from Donetsk oblast and actively investigates Russian war crimes. One of their significant contributions is the creation of a comprehensive map of humanitarian hubs throughout Ukraine, which is used by local governments to assist refugees in locating and accessing help. Additionally, Vilne Radio regularly reports on available shelters and resources for refugees across the country.
Olga Nikolska has been working in non-for-profit sector since 2002. She started her career at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc. Later in 2010 she joined the team of dvv international – Ukrainian branch of Deutsche Volkshochschule Verband. Olga has completed Professional Fundraising Course in 2006-2007, and is a certified fundraiser by European Fundraising Association. She has also completed a course on Project and Program Management in 2010 and was awarded a state certificate by KROK University. For more than 5 years (2013-2017) she acted as independent consultant – providing trainings and strategic sessions to Ukrainian organizations in the fields of strategic planning, fundraising and communication. Since November 2017 Olga is employed by ISAR Ednannia as Culture of Philanthropy Development Program Director. She is in charge of the School for Community Foundations Program, funded by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (2009-2025). This program is aimed at developing the skills of Ukrainian Community Foundations to raise funds locally and gain influence in their respective communities. In 2019 Ms. Nikolska completed Senior International Fellowship Program at Center on Civil Society and Philanthropy at the Graduation Center of the City University of New York, the USA. Since 2022 she is in charge international communications and fundraising and also runs ISAR Ednannia’s PEOPLE to PEOPLE campaign aimed at individual donors and private foundations contributing to the community development in Ukraine.