On September 17, first-year students (group IФ-251, specialty B11 Philology) — Solomakha Diana, Senchura Sofiia, Aliferenko Anna, and Shuliak Yelyzaveta — took part in a national event organized with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. This was an event of national importance that brought together 14 institutions of Ukraine around the ideas of peace, recovery, and deep healing.
For our students, participation in the presentation of the book by American author and peacemaker Angi Yoder-Maina was not only an introduction to new academic approaches but also a symbol of their own involvement in the processes of social transformation. They had the chance to join the discussion of topics that today shape the spiritual and social foundations of Ukraine. The participants of the meeting could listen to a world expert speaking about the combination of science, empathy, and practice, and also felt part of a wider dialogue about the future of the country.
Angi Yoder-Maina is an author with more than 30 years of experience working in post-conflict regions around the world. She has helped thousands of people deal with trauma by combining mental healing, social recovery, and peacebuilding. Her book “Healing as a Guarantee of Peace: An Approach to Peacemaking in Traumatized Societies” presents an approach that is especially relevant for Ukraine today.
Key ideas of the book:
- how trauma slows down the development of society;
- why trauma awareness is the first step to healing;
- healing as the key to stability and lasting peace;
- combining psychological support and peacebuilding;
- practical ways to restore Ukrainian communities.
This project is implemented with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and brings together the academic community, civic organizations, and young people for the common goal of peace. The participants of the event received a copy of the book as a gift.
