- November 27, 2025
- 3:29 pm
- Israel, Video
Project “Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel” celebrated its 5th anniversary and on November 26, 2025, released a special video — a large anniversary interview about the team’s journey, the development of the initiative, support for Ukraine, and the role of the Ukrainian community in Israel.
Participants in the release include:
- Ulyana Dryuchkova — co-founder of the project
- Olga Tkach — co-founder
- Inna Dobrytska — organizer
- Yunia Kaminska — organizer, artist
Detailed presentation of the anniversary video “Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel”
1. How it all began — the story of the first meeting
In the anniversary video, participants recall the start of the project in such detail that you almost feel like you’re there — in that very park.
The first meeting took place under conditions that are hard to call ideal: autumn rain, wet benches, a few families trying to hide under trees, and a writer holding a book in one hand and an umbrella in the other.
This happened during a period when Israel was just beginning to move away from COVID restrictions:
- people were cautious,
- large gatherings were prohibited,
- many avoided offline events.
Nevertheless, a few families came — simply because they wanted “a Ukrainian voice, books, live communication”.
Ulyana Dryuchkova and Olga Tkach recall that at that meeting there was no sense of failure — on the contrary, there was a feeling that if people come even under such conditions, then it is necessary to continue.
And this became the starting point of the project “Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel”.
2. Five years of development — the path from readings to festivals
The anniversary video shows in detail how the initiative has changed over five years:
From intimacy to systematization
The first meetings were simple: readings of Ukrainian books, children’s corners, small workshops.
Over time, the team began to expand the format, learn new techniques, and create increasingly complex events.
The emergence of a mobile Ukrainian library
Over time, a full-fledged library of Ukrainian books was formed, which now “travels” to every Gathering.
These are dozens of books for children and adults that were impossible to find in Israel in 2020–2021.
Festivals with different zones
Now Gatherings look like a mini-festival, where simultaneously operate:
- children’s workshops,
- reading and storytelling zone,
- musicians’ performances,
- craft fair points,
- photo zones,
- creativity zone for adults.
The scale has grown many times over, but it has not lost the intimacy and warmth that was in the first rainy park.
3. Volunteering as the foundation of the initiative — an honest inside look
In the video, participants explain that the project was never a business.
It has always been a public endeavor, based on the desire to support the Ukrainian language and traditions.
The team consists of people who:
- have their own jobs,
- have families,
- have children,
- have household and career burdens.
But they all continue to invest their efforts in the Gatherings.
At the same time, the work is enormous:
- renting a venue,
- purchasing materials,
- coordinating speakers,
- finding craftsmen,
- decorating the hall,
- sound installation,
- creating posters,
- administering groups,
- preparing volunteers.
Each event is a full-fledged project with 2–3 weeks of preparation.
4. Financial part and help to Ukraine — from family expenses to millions of hryvnias for the Armed Forces
The team honestly tells that initially all expenses fell on the shoulders of the organizers:
purchasing paper, paints, decorations, renting premises, delivering materials.
But as the project grew, the expenses became too large.
Why paid workshops appeared
The participation cost was made minimal — just to cover:
- materials,
- scissors, glue guns, brushes, paint,
- decorations,
- hall rentals.
This allowed not to stop the project, maintain quality, and not burn out.
Fundraising for Ukraine
A separate line discussed in the video is systematic help to Ukraine:
- over the years of war, millions of hryvnias have been sent for the needs of Ukrainian military;
- the team supports specific brigades to make the help targeted and tangible;
- every donation is documented — transparently and openly;
- the community trusts the Gatherings because they see the reports.
This is one of the most important pages of the project’s activities.
5. Mistakes, experience, and growth — honestly about failures
In the video, participants candidly talk about the fact that:
- sometimes the program was too overloaded,
- sometimes there weren’t enough volunteers,
- sometimes children ran onto the stage during performances,
- sometimes the heat made working on the site almost impossible.
There were technical failures, scheduling errors, underestimated scales.
But the team developed a habit of doing a review after each event — without accusations, calmly, to the point.
This allowed the project to grow.
6. Burnout — a topic many are afraid to discuss
A special block of the video is dedicated to how volunteers burn out:
- constant load,
- responsibility,
- the need to be “in touch” almost always,
- stress before festivals.
The team implemented the rule of “vacation in January” — a month without events.
They also learned to delegate, refuse the unnecessary, and accept help from community members.
7. Ukrainian community in Israel — where the Gatherings stand today
The video emphasizes that over five years the Ukrainian community in Israel has become much more active:
- film screenings appeared,
- theatrical projects,
- quizzes,
- creative meetings,
- educational formats.
But “Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel” occupy a special place:
- it is primarily a family space,
- a place where the Ukrainian language is spoken,
- a place where children grow up with authentic traditions: pysanka, spiders, vybyika,
- a place where people find friends, support, and a sense of a Ukrainian home.
Anniversary video
Podcast BalachkI – episode №9. About Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel, celebrating their fifth anniversary, about finances and donations, friends, partners, and haters, about the Ukrainian community and its movement.
What “Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel” represents today
- large family festivals with several zones;
- workshops on Ukrainian crafts;
- a mobile library of Ukrainian books;
- educational and cultural events;
- constant collections and help to Ukrainian military;
- a communication center for the Ukrainian community in Israel;
- readiness to share experience and support similar initiatives in other cities.
To stay updated on all events, announcements, photo and video reports, the team invites you to subscribe to the project’s official pages:
🔹 YouTube (anniversary video and podcasts):
https://www.youtube.com/@udmIsrael
🔹 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089422609055
🔹 Telegram channel:
https://t.me/ukrainian_zdybanky_in_israel
🔹 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ukrainian_zdybanky_in_israel/
Congratulations and gratitude from NAnovosti
The editorial team of NAnovosti warmly congratulates the project “Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel” on its fifth anniversary.
This project has become an important part of Ukrainian life in Israel and has proven how strong a community can be when created by sincere, active, and caring people.
We thank Ulyana Dryuchkova, Olga Tkach, Inna Dobrytska, Yunia Kaminska and all the project’s volunteers for their enormous contribution to preserving Ukrainian culture abroad, supporting Ukraine, and caring for families and children.
It is an honor for us to tell about you and support the Ukrainian community in Israel.
Such initiatives form a vibrant and strong Ukrainian future beyond the country’s borders.
NAnovosti — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency