The Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ukrainian nonprofit Svoya: Women’s Network for Education and Development, establishing a long-term international partnership focused on education, research, advocacy, and the preservation of the history of the Ukrainian women’s movement.
The agreement establishes cooperation on initiatives in education, culture, advocacy, research, and archival work. The partnership will focus on preserving historical memory, advancing research on the Ukrainian women’s movement, promoting women’s leadership and rights, and strengthening civil society in Ukraine and the diaspora through advocacy, educational programs, and joint research and publishing projects.
“This partnership is a meaningful step in strengthening connections between women in Ukraine and the diaspora,” said Natalia Pawlenko, President of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America. “For over a century, UNWLA has worked to amplify the voices and contributions of Ukrainian women. We are proud to join efforts with Svoya to expand research, education, and advocacy that highlight the role of women in shaping Ukraine’s past, present, and future.”
“For us, signing the Memorandum with the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America — an organization that has been a voice for Ukraine in the world for more than a century — is a great honor and a powerful symbol that women’s sisterhood knows no borders,” said Shvets. “I have long collaborated with UNWLA members as a researcher of the women’s movement and have always felt the strength of this network of support and dedication to Ukraine. Now this connection takes on a new dimension through the partnership of our organizations — creating opportunities to deepen dialogue with the diaspora, develop joint educational and research initiatives, and strengthen women’s leadership. I am sincerely grateful to UNWLA President Natalia Pawlenko and the members of the League for their trust and openness to cooperation. Together we unite to act and to make the contribution of Ukrainian women more visible and significant.”
Alla Shvets, Head of Svoya: Women’s Network for Education and Development
Through this memorandum, UNWLA and SVoya reaffirm their shared commitment to promoting women’s leadership, preserving historical knowledge, and strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the global Ukrainian community.
To mark the beginning of this partnership, UNWLA and SVoya will host an inaugural event, “Being a Ukrainian Woman in the World – Being a Ukrainian Woman of the World: Experiences of Women’s Leadership and Activism in Emigration.”
The international online discussion, dedicated to Women’s History Month, will explore the legacy and contemporary experiences of Ukrainian women’s leadership and activism in the diaspora.
