“I`ll make my contribution to the development of Ukraine,” — this was Daria Bazylevych’s dream, which was cut short by a Russian missile

Daria was only 18. She was a second-year student of the Cultural Studies program at UCU’s Faculty of Humanities. She was active and energetic, regularly volunteered and had many plans for her life.

“I am interested in the culture and history of my country, and in the future I want to develop the culture of Ukraine and tell the whole world about it. This passion arose in me thanks to my family, who always shared with me stories about the trials our ancestors went through as a result of the world wars, the Holodomor, and the Soviet Union,” wrote Daria Bazylevych in her motivation letter for a scholarship to UCU. “In addition to me, my parents are raising two more sisters, and we have an incredibly friendly and harmonious family. My family is an inexhaustible source of support that cannot be compared to any other. They are the biggest support in my life, helping me to overcome any obstacles.”

Daria wrote that her first year at university was an awakening for everyone because of the war: “With the war came consciousness, an understanding of what was really happening, and values and principles changed. But most importantly, I realized how important it is to know the history of your country. That’s why I started studying it in more detail, reading books and watching various films on the subject. In this way, I not only learned a lot about my country, but also discovered a great interest in history.”

Daria further wrote that she had to adapt to both studying at the university and participating in student organizations, but she worked hard on improving herself, in particular her leadership and communication skills.

“Despite all the difficulties, I made every effort to study successfully. I managed to get 90+ marks in all subjects, and even 100 in some. I became very interested in the subjects and culture in general. Last year, I had no idea about literature, history, art and culture, and today I am very excited. I want to read a lot, go to exhibitions, listen to lectures, and research. And now I have no doubt that I am on the right track and that it is in the cultural sphere that I will find my place.”

Despite her active studies, Daria took part in many volunteer initiatives. In particular, she taught Ukrainian to students at Indiana University.

“It was a very interesting experience. I not only tried myself as a teacher, but also had a chance to practice my English. It was a great honor for me to teach Ukrainian to foreigners, because it is very important to spread Ukrainian culture and raise awareness of Ukraine,” Daria wrote.

In the autumn of 2023, university students together with the team of the UCU Volunteer Center organized an intellectual competition for 9th grade students of a local school in the village of Obroshyne, Lviv Oblast, and in the spring an event for 6th grade students of the same school, where they told the children about Ukrainian traditions. “We danced May Dances, played traditional games and sang folk songs. After that, we organized a career guidance session for 10th-graders and told them about student life,” she said.

Daria also volunteered at the event called “Youth. It’s not easy, but dream!” and believed that “volunteering is not only about helping the military. We should also remember about the intellectual development of the country.”

Daria wrote that despite her busy schedule, she managed not to forget about her personal life. “Now, in addition to my studies, I work out in the gym and go to a theatre studio. I am very motivated for new adventures, I have many new ideas and goals. Next year, I plan to be a volunteer mentor and join the Motanka student group, which organizes events to promote Ukrainian traditions. I also plan to take part in an exchange program for one semester next year,’ Daria wrote.

Thanking the donor`s support, Daria concluded:

“I still have many challenges ahead of me, but I am ready for them and look forward to them. I have all these opportunities only thanks to you and my university. I am incredibly grateful that my life is going the way it is now, and I have the opportunity to think not only about my studies but also about my personal development. I have the opportunity to explore myself and the world around me, and this only motivates me to greater achievements and new adventures. Thank you very much for your generous support, which gives me the opportunity to get a quality education and fulfil my dreams. Your help is invaluable, especially in these difficult times. I am confident that thanks to your support and my hard work, I will be able to achieve significant success and contribute to the development of Ukraine.”

Vice-Rector of UCU, Sophia Opatska, wrote: “I have known the family in this picture for 20+ years. Don’t tell us that this is just Putin. The whole russia is responsible for what they are doing to Ukraine and our lives. If the world thinks that war is over ― it is not. Yesterday 41 people were killed in an educational institution in Poltava, in the evening Sumy University was damaged badly by bombs, this night Lviv, Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih were targeted with many lives taken away”.