Activities

Daria Ivanova, originally from Kyiv, balanced running her business while studying law before the full-scale war prompted her to move to Europe. She spent two years in Berlin, exploring her creative and spiritual sides amidst the chaos, before relocating to Amsterdam a year ago. Now a freelancer, Daria organizes monthly…

Anna Bezpala is from Kyiv and is completing her bachelor’s degree in International Communications in Groningen. A writer of short stories, novels, and poetry, she also organizes cultural events. Anna is an avid runner and enjoys reading historical novels, nonfiction, and philosophy. Deeply passionate about Ukrainian culture and history –…

Anna Bielchenko, originally from Kyiv, has been living in the Netherlands for over six years. With a degree in diplomacy, she has worked with various international organizations and NGOs. Alongside her professional career, Anna is passionate about photography and contributes to VATAHA as one of its photographers, capturing diverse events…

Lera Manzovitova is a photographer from Kyiv, Ukraine. She has been pursuing photography professionally since 2015, following a decade of experience as a journalist and editor with organizations like Edipresse Group and Burda Media. Lera also has significant experience volunteering as a photographer for charitable organizations. She arrived in the…

Olha Andruschenko was born in a village in the Chernihiv region and later moved to Kharkiv, where she studied at the National University of Pharmacy and built her career in education and pharmaceuticals. After becoming a mother, she shifted her focus to maternal mental health, volunteering for initiatives like “Caring…

Andrii Kompaniiets is originally from Odesa, where he lived until the full-scale war. He is currently pursuing an online degree in sound engineering at a Ukrainian university. Passionate about music since childhood, Andrii began creating his own songs at 14. Now, he focuses on studio and concert sound engineering, a…

Anastasiia Bendyk, originally from Kremenchuk in the Poltava region, is a dedicated volunteer at VATAHA. She actively supports and helps organize events that promote Ukrainian artists and cultural initiatives. Whether making coffee or collecting donations, Anastasiia plays an important role in fostering community and preserving Ukrainian heritage. In her free…

Iryna Umanets is born and raised in Kyiv, and she had never intended to leave the city of her heart before the war. At VATAHA, she leads embroidery workshops, sharing her passion for needlework, which she cherishes in all its forms. A mother of two, Iryna finds joy in seeing…

Tetiana Rumilets, from Odesa, holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and postgraduate degrees from the Odesa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture. An educator since 2008, she realized her dream of a children’s architectural school through the aHouseforHome project. Tetiana also developed a transformative project to modernize network libraries in Odesa and…

Nicole Katenkari, originally from Yevpatoria in Crimea, studied cultural studies at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Her professional journey includes working at the Mystetskyi Arsenal, a leading cultural institution in Kyiv. After the full-scale invasion, Nicole relocated to Rotterdam, where she now contributes to the Fenix Museum of Migration.…

A researcher and the newest addition to VATAHA’s editorial team, covering events that promote Ukrainian art and culture in the Netherlands. As a researcher, she has worked across a range of areas, from migration policy and nuclear non-proliferation to media literacy. Originally from Lviv, Ukraine, Olena has lived in Canada,…