Memory That Brings Us Together: Honoring the Holodomor Anniversary at IvAlive

The pain of the Holodomor is something all Ukrainians share. It’s a wound we must never forget. It’s important to speak openly about this tragedy, pass the truth on to future generations, preserve the stories of our families, and honor the memory of the millions of innocent people who were lost.

With this purpose, we held a memorial event at the IvAlive Educational Development Center to mark the anniversary of the Holodomor. We sincerely thank everyone who joined us:

• Vira Ostashchuk — for her meaningful lecture and for sharing lesser-known facts that helped us understand the full scale of this tragedy;

• Werner Schmidt, musician and co-founder of the Ukraine Culture Network — for his work to build cultural partnerships between Ukraine and Europe, his ongoing support of Ukrainian artists, and a stand in solidarity with our efforts to preserve historical memory;

• Samvel Arustamyan, representative of the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland, and the entire Embassy team — for their support and collaboration with the IvAlive Foundation on projects that matter greatly to the Ukrainian community;

• Natalia Rostova-Paladiy, writer — for composing a heartfelt and powerful poem especially for the occasion;

• The IvAlive Children’s Choir — for their touching performance;

• And, of course, to all our guests who came to share this evening of remembrance and respect.

Together, we also created a symbolic artwork featuring a black ear of wheat — a powerful image of pain, memory, and the family stories that live on in the hearts of Ukrainians. Each written phrase became part of this shared canvas, reflecting our memories, compassion, and resilience.

As long as we protect these stories and speak the truth, we carry forward the strength that unites Ukrainians across the world.