​Bringing Mavka from Ukraine to the people of Oxfordshire

30th May 2024

Club members Marina, Darina, Ievgeniia and Karen all took part in the Mavka Festival held in Faringdon on 25th May. Maryna was a key member of the organising team and Karen's other Rotary club in Faringdon provided some financial support for the event. 

The Mavka Festival organised by members of the Ukrainian community in and around Faringdon on 25th May was a fabulous celebration of Ukrainian culture, of the resilience of the families who have moved to the area and of the support offered by so many in our communities over the last two years.

Faringdon Rotarians were delighted to be able to offer some funding to support the event and a few members were able to join in for the day. Up to 300 people attended through the day, with the Corn Exchange packed for welcomes by Sjoerd the Town Crier, Karen representing Rotary and Anastasia & Marina as two of the key organisers of the event. Marina introduced Ukrainian women who were celebrated for their resilience and successes since coming to England, there was singing and dancing, lots of great food, a beautiful Mavka cake, plus children’s crafts in the corner run by the Faringdon Rotakids group where we made Mavka dolls from wooden spoons & forks!

And then everyone moved up the hill to the Folly for the second part of the day – the unveiling of the Mavka statue. More flowers for crowns, beautiful weather and children running around in the field.

Rather than try to explain in words how fabulous the whole day was, we have a few photos to share. And scroll down for a great video put together by Hanna Khazova.