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Talking about Ukraine: a powerful cultural event was held in Naples
The opening of the exhibition by Ukrainian photographers in Naples was a great success. The event formed part of the prologue to the 11th edition of ‘Imbavagliati – International Festival of Citizen Journalism’ and was held with the support of journalist Desiree Klein and the Fondazione Plart museum. The CRASA Aps association played a key role in organising and delivering the event, acting as the initiator of the Ukrainian community’s participation and the programme coordinator. Thanks to these joint efforts, a rich and emotionally cohesive event was created, bringing together photography, documentary film and performance art. The exhibition was dedicated to the innocent victims of the war in Ukraine — women and children. The exhibition featured works by Ukrainian photographers Oleksandr Gimanov, Taras Fedorenko and Viktoria Govorushchenko. Their projects explore the theme of war through a female perspective — profound, personal and yet full of inner strength. According to UA Service HUB, the programme also included an emotional performance and a screening of a documentary from the ‘The Will to Win’ project, which tells the story of the young gymnast Oleksandra Pascal. The girl lost her leg as a result of a rocket strike on her home, but after rehabilitation she returned to training, becoming a symbol of courage and resilience. An additional artistic highlight of the event was a musical performance by Ukrainian artist Svitlana Khronenko and visual elements that enhanced the overall impression of the event. The organisers emphasise that the main aim of the event was to give Ukraine a voice and, through art, convey the human dimension of war to the international community. Thanks to the coordinating role of Crasa Aps, this task was carried out to a high standard.
UA Service HUB platform presented to Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy during a meeting with the community
During a meeting between the newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Italy, Ihor Brusylo, and the Ukrainian community in Rome, Alona Siwerska, a representative of the CRASA APS association, presented the UA Service HUB platform — a modern online service for Ukrainians in Italy, designed to bring the community together, provide access to services and foster communication. UA Service HUB is a digital platform based on the website work.crasa.team, which brings together specialists, volunteer initiatives, employment opportunities and useful information for Ukrainians in Italy. The project is designed to support the community, simplify integration and foster cooperation between organisations, activists and users. In the context of the development of the Ukrainian diaspora and the strengthening of civil society, such a resource is of particular importance, as it creates a convenient ecosystem for interaction between civil society organisations, specialists, volunteers and people seeking assistance or new opportunities within the Italian environment. This is precisely why UA Service HUB can be seen as a promising platform for the Ukrainian diaspora in Italy, combining informational value, social interaction and digital convenience. In addition to presenting the platform, Alona Siwerska spoke about the activities of CRASA APS and the projects it has implemented. As a symbolic gesture, she presented the Ambassador with a calendar of ‘Ukrainian Women in Italy’ — a charitable initiative aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture in Italy. During the meeting, they also discussed the consolidation of the Ukrainian community, strengthening cooperation with diplomatic bodies and supporting Ukrainians abroad. It should be noted that the meeting took place on 18 April in Rome. Its main objective was to foster an open dialogue between the Ambassador and the Ukrainian community, as well as to discuss current areas of cooperation and the development of initiatives in Italy. The participants focused on coordinating joint projects and strengthening communication between diplomatic institutions and civil society.
Free online course for future cultural mediators launches in Italy
Training & HR has announced the launch of a free training course entitled ‘Linguistic and Cultural Mediator’. The 240-hour programme will be delivered entirely online and is designed to train professionals capable of working in a multicultural environment and facilitating effective communication between people of different languages and cultures. The curriculum covers the following modules: psychology and communication, international law and legislation, as well as the practical aspects of a cultural mediator’s work. Classes will be conducted in Italian and English. Ukrainian citizens who are unemployed, temporarily out of work or in part-time employment are invited to apply. The organisers note that the profession of cultural mediator is becoming increasingly in demand, particularly in the context of active migration processes and the development of international cooperation. Further information is available on the organisers’ official website or by emailing: info@traininghr.it. Enquiries regarding the course can also be made by telephone: 349 767 6128.
Football unites: a championship among Ukrainian teams will be held in Italy
On 26 April, a football tournament kicks off in Italy, which has been bringing together Ukrainian teams from different regions of the country for many years. The competition will run until 17 May and will conclude with the final tournament — the Super Cup in Rome. This is the only Ukrainian football championship in Italy, featuring teams from the south, centre and north of the country. It is worth noting that the tournament’s history dates back to 2013, when the first championship between Ukrainian teams was organised on the initiative of the parish priest of the Ukrainian community in Caserta, Fr. Ihor Danylchuk, and several enthusiasts. According to UA Service HUB, six teams from the southern region of Italy took part in the first competition. The tournament subsequently began to expand, with new cities and teams joining in. Over time, the championship has come to cover virtually the whole country. In 2021, the sporting event began to be supported by the newly established Department of Youth Ministry of the Apostolic Exarchate, led by Fr. Sviatoslav Tytuliak. The event has both a sporting and a spiritual dimension: before the games begin, participants gather for the Divine Liturgy, and a communal prayer takes place before each match. Details of this year’s championship: Matches involving teams from the Southern region will take place in Caserta. Participating teams: Storm (Salerno) Volya (Nola) Trident (Caserta) Cavour (Naples) Otamani (Santa Maria C. V.) Bukovina (Mondragone) Vesuvius (Pompeii) Programme for 26 April: 11:30 — Divine Liturgy. Church address: via San Carlo, 112, Caserta. 13:30–20:00 — championship matches. Stadium address: via Pier Paolo Pasolini, 39, Caserta. Matches for teams from the central region will take place in Rome. Teams: The Unbreakables (Rome) Good Fellas (Rome) Legion (Rome) Sparta (Rome) St Josaphat College (Rome) Programme for 26 April: 10:00 — Holy Mass at the Patriarchal Pro-Cathedral of Saint Sophia. 12:00 — start of matches. Stadium address: Asd Atletico Grifone, via Mattia Battistini, 2
Newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy met with community representatives
On 18 April, a meeting was held in Rome between representatives of the Ukrainian community and the newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy, Ihor Brusylo. The event was organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy. The meeting was attended by activists, volunteers and representatives of the diaspora, including representatives of the associations NAU, CRASA and Dateci Le Ali. The main aim of the event was to facilitate an open dialogue between the new Ambassador and the Ukrainian community, as well as to discuss current issues regarding cooperation, support for Ukrainians and the development of initiatives in Italy. Participants discussed opportunities for coordinating joint projects and strengthening communication between diplomatic institutions and civil society. Among those present was Alona Siwerska, a representative of the CRASA APS association. During the meeting, she spoke about the organisation’s activities and presented completed projects and initiatives, including the UA Service HUB platform based on the website work.crasa.team. As a symbolic gesture, Siwerska presented the Ambassador with a calendar entitled ‘Ukrainian Women in Italy’ – another of the association’s charitable projects aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture in Italy. It should be noted that such meetings are an important part of the interaction between diplomatic institutions and the Ukrainian community abroad, helping to strengthen ties, support the community and develop new joint initiatives.
The number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU has increased
Over the past month, the number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU has risen by 22,415. This is according to Eurostat data. According to UA service HUB, as of the end of February, 4.40 million Ukrainians were granted temporary protection in the EU.The increase stands at +0.5%. 📈 Leaders in terms of growth: 🇩🇪 Germany — +7,245 (+0.6%) 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — +2,445 (+0.6%) 🇪🇸 Spain — +2,425 (+0.9%) 📉 Countries from which the most Ukrainians left: 🇪🇪 Estonia — 710 (−2.1%) 🇫🇷 France — 465 (−0.9%) 🇱🇺 Luxembourg — 5 (−0.1%) 📊 Overall breakdown ➖ Adult women — 43.5% ➖ Children — 30.2% ➖ Men — 26.3%
War through the eyes of a woman: an exhibition of Ukrainian photographers to be held in Naples
On Friday, 24 April, the Museo Plart will host the opening event of the 11th Imbavagliati International Festival of Citizen Journalism. The event will take place from 4 pm to 6 pm and will serve as an important platform for reflecting on the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The centrepiece of the event will be a photography exhibition on the theme ‘War through the eyes of an ordinary woman’. The works are by Ukrainian photographers Oleksandr Gimanov, Taras Fedorenko and Viktoria Govorushchenko, who document the current realities of Ukraine. The event will feature a musical performance by Ukrainian musician Svitlana Khronenko (mandolin) and Roberto Bianca (viola), who will perform Giovanni Hoffmann’s Serenata in D major. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Fondazione Plart and organised by the CRASA APS association. The event will also feature the launch of the UA Service Hub online platform, created on the basis of the work.crasa.team website, which aims to support the Ukrainian community and promote integration in Italy. The festival’s prologue aims not only to draw attention to the tragedy of the war in Ukraine, but also to highlight the power of culture, journalism and international solidarity. It should be noted that the CRASA APS association was registered in 2024 and was founded primarily by female refugees. The team comprises professionals from various fields: the IT industry, PR, journalism, marketing and show business.
Conference in Naples: Italians were reminded of the Chornobyl tragedy
On 13 April, a conference was held at Naples City Hall to mark the 40th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — a tragedy that forever altered the course of history and served as a warning to all of humanity. According to the Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples, the event was attended by those who helped deal with the aftermath of the disaster — Dr Volodymyr Yuriyovych Chartorinsky and an active participant in the Chernobyl movement, retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Serhiy Yaroslavovych Vashchuk. The disaster response workers shared their accounts of the unprecedented threat humanity faced as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. It was thanks to the courage, self-sacrifice and high professionalism of the response workers that an even larger-scale nuclear disaster was averted, the consequences of which could have had a devastating impact on the entire European continent. Maksym Kovalenko, Consul General of Ukraine in Naples, noted that humanity must remember this terrible tragedy and make every effort to prevent similar disasters now and in the future. After all, Russian aggression against Ukraine — in particular the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and drone attacks on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — poses a threat of new disasters that know no borders. In turn, Vincenzo Santagata, Deputy Mayor of Naples, expressed his deep solidarity with the Ukrainian people and assured them of continued comprehensive support. Drawing on his medical experience, he highlighted the lethal effects of radioactive isotopes released during accidents at nuclear facilities, emphasising the seriousness of such threats to human life and health. “The Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples is sincerely grateful to the people of Italy, in particular to our Neapolitan friends, who for a long time have been hosting Ukrainian children affected by the accident for rehabilitation,” reads a statement from the consulate on Facebook. Naples continues to actively assist Ukraine today. In particular, the Naples Pharmacists’ Association, chaired by Vincenzo Santagata, regularly donates medicines as humanitarian aid to Ukrainian medical facilities. Meanwhile, the Naples Bar Association, together with the company ‘Capri Campus’ and in cooperation with the State Emergency Service of the Kyiv region, is participating in the safety monitoring of the airspace around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant using special drones and probes. It should be recalled that the Chernobyl disaster — one of the largest man-made accidents in human history — occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. An explosion at the fourth reactor led to a massive release of radioactive substances. As a result of the accident, hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated, and large areas of Ukraine and other countries were contaminated by radioactivity.
Charity Calendar "Ukrainians in Italy" brings results
The Ukrainian-Italian charity project Il Calendario Solidale "Ukrainian Women in Italy" continues to deliver tangible results. The funds raised through the initiative were transferred to the Kharkiv-based “Talon.UA” foundation and used to set up an “underground” sports hall for children. According to UA Service HUB, this is a safe space created amidst the war, where children can engage in physical activity, play and rediscover the feeling of a normal childhood. Recently, the organisers received a video from their partners in Ukraine demonstrating the results of the aid provided. The Il Calendario Solidale “Ukrainian Women in Italy” project was created by the C.R.A.S.A. APS association, founded by Ukrainian women currently living in Italy. The initiative aims not only to raise funds but also to support women’s solidarity, creative expression and personal development. Project team: • Producer and author: Zhanna Zhukova • Executive Director: Liliia Glinka • Art Director: Anastasiia Alikas • Casting manager: Alona Siverska • PR Manager: Nadezhda Bereziuk • Graphic designer: Katerina Kiro The calendar features Ukrainian women living and working in Italy: entrepreneurs, artists, volunteers, translators, managers and professional models. Each of them represents a separate month and her own story of strength, adaptation and growth. The shoot was carried out on a voluntary basis by Ukrainian photographers currently working in Italy, as well as a team of make-up artists and stylists who joined the project. Make-up and hair: Olha Martyniuk, Iryna Tkachova, Katerina Klimenko, Lino De Matteo Photographers: Iryna Levytska, Illia Dymitro, Anastasiia Alikas, Yurii Chartorynskyi, Zhanna Zhukova. The organisers emphasise that this calendar is not only a symbolic gesture of support but also a practical tool for aid — an example of how cultural initiatives can be transformed into concrete action. It should be noted that the Ukrainian dresses for the calendar were provided by the Kyiv-based brand Anna Marchuk.Media support: BusinessWoman magazine.