MastersWe: a living space of strength and unity in GEN Ukraine
This summer, the Network of Ecovillages of Ukraine GEN Ukraine once again stitched the country together with threads of crafts, culture and warm meetings. The traveling festival “MastersWe” continued the path begun in 2023 by the “Caravan of Masters” and proved that even in times of war, Ukrainian communities strive to create, recover and dream together.
In August, the festival visited four locations – Vinnytsia region (Potoky and Velyka Rodyna settlements), Zhytomyr region (Yemelianivka settlement) and Kharkiv region (the “Happy People” community).
During the 10 days of the festival, a total of more than 130 workshops took place: pottery, blacksmithing, weaving, beekeeping, herbalism, permaculture, creating didukhs and candles, insect houses, making and painting gingerbread cookies, – and many other crafts that preserve the Ukrainian identity. 27 craftsmen shared their experience with children, youth, women and everyone who wanted to – in total, almost 250 participants took part in this year’s festival.
The atmosphere of the project was saturated not only with creativity, but also with real support: lively children’s interest, women’s circles, evenings by the fire, excursions to settlements, dreams of joint projects. “For the first time, we felt that our small village is part of a large Ukraine, where everyone is important,” says a participant from the Kharkiv region. Svitolada Babich, a craftswoman from Ternopil region, shares her impressions: “The format of the traveling festival gave many craftsmen from all over the world the opportunity to meet and spend time together, exchange experiences and inspiration.”
Its author, Hanna Hronska, played a special role in the birth and development of the project. She gathered a team of like-minded people, and gave the festival the energy to move. “MaistryMi is proof that culture and humanity are stronger than fear. We gave different people a space for creativity and live communication,” shares Hanna. – MaistryMi is our first experience of a large-scale crypto-grant creative talk in a network of eco-villages. This is living proof that culture and humanity, our community, are stronger than fear. Our common spaces are already becoming cultural centers in communities, and this is an important result, – shares Hanna.
The idea of the festival was born from a deep understanding of the needs of the time: children of war are growing up in villages and eco-communities, many displaced people, women are looking for a safe space for recovery, for creative children’s and their own activities. The MaystryMy project responded to these needs by creating a living space in which crafts become therapy, and the community is a support.
The project received comprehensive support from the Global Eco-Village Network and has already been presented at the European Heritage Awards–2025 as an example of a cultural initiative that revitalizes communities even in the most difficult times.
GEN Ukraine thanks all the craftsmen, volunteers, coordinators and activists of eco-villages, as well as communities who opened their hearts and yards for the celebration of creativity. Together we have proven: culture and man-made beauty can save this world, and true mastery is the art of being a Human who knows how to interact harmoniously with the Universe. 💚
