On February 25, 2026, a presentation-spectacle «Stories from Lesia’s Life» was held at APP. The event was dedicated to the 155th anniversary of Lesia Ukrainka’s birth and the publication of the second, updated edition of «The Key to Ukraine. Stories from Lesia’s Life» – a textbook on Ukrainian as a foreign language (level B1). Iryna Kliuchkovska, Oksana Horda, Oksana Trumko, Oksana Halaichuk, Nazar Danchyshyn, Olha Soroka, Nataliia Martynyshyn, Olena Mytsko and Olha Rusnak worked on the book. The manual shows readers the writer’s life and creative path of the renowned writer while helping learners develop their Ukrainian language skills. The publication is particularly relevant today, as many Ukrainian children are currently studying outside Ukraine.
The event was organized by the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations, APP. The meeting was moderated by Oksana Trumko, philologist and research associate at the IECDR.
Opening the event, Nataliia Shakhovska, Rector of APP, emphasized the significance of Lesia Ukrainka’s figure in shaping national self-identity. In her speech, she highlighted the role of the family environment in the formation of the writer, particularly the influence of Olena Pchilka and the intellectual environment in which Lesia Ukrainka grew up. The Rector also drew special attention to the idea that an individual is not only shaped by their surrounding but is also capable of transforming it.
– Lesia Ukrainka is a unique figure: the daughter of Olena Pchilka and the niece of Mykhailo Drahomanov. All of Olena Pchilka’s children were educated at home, and she organized this process in such a way that they were raised with a strong sense of Ukrainian identity, despite the fact that many people at that time aspired to serve the empire [...]. Lesia Ukrainka’s circle of acquaintances – in particular, Olha Kobylianska – illustrates how environment and friendship influence personal development and help shape a broader cultural space.
Lesia Ukrainka’s example shows that a person can not only shape society but also be ahead of it. At the time when she lived and created, society was predominantly masculine. Despite the liberal upbringing in her family, she went against her mother’s will in choosing her personal life and forming her own circle of friends. This is an example of a person who knows what she wants and how to achieve it.
Therefore, the memory of Lesia Ukrainka is especially important for us today – particularly now, when we have been living in conditions of war for four years. Once again, we are reflecting on the issue of self-identity. Lesia Ukrainka is a vivid example of such self-identity – the kind toward which we must all strive [...].
In her speech, Iryna Kliuchkovska, the IECDR Director, emphasized the importance of the humanitarian dimension at a technical university and explained why the figure of Lesia Ukrainka remains significant for Polytechnic students. Ms. Kliuchkovska noted that without cultural context and a strong system of values, knowledge and technology can become empty or even dangerous.
The speaker also drew attention to the fact that Ukrainians often lack sufficient knowledge of their own cultural heritage and encouraged people to better understand Lesia Ukrainka’s work as a source of integrity and responsibility. Parallels between the poet’s texts and the challenges of the present-day war clearly highlight the ideas of solidarity and duty to the people as enduring values.
The special guest of the presentation-spectacle was Maria Slovoliub, a blogger, philologist, teacher, popularizer of the Ukrainian language, and folklorist. In her concluding remarks, she encouraged everyone to cherish their own ideas and remain true to their inner calling, regardless of profession or circumstances.
The speaker also highlighted the publication «Stories from Lesia’s Life» as a valuable resource for learning the Ukrainian language, particularly abroad, emphasizing its linguistic richness and careful attention to specific vocabulary. Finally, the philologist called for a deeper engagement with Ukrainian heritage and for greater self-appreciation, noting that only through awareness of one’s own cultural significance can a nation be properly represented in the world.
