IvAlive Foundation

Yesterday, IvAlive Foundation, together with partners — Ukraine reborn, the Geneva branch of the Ukrainian Society of Ukraine, and Ukrainian Women in Switzerland, had the honor of representing the Ukrainian community in Switzerland and sharing information about our current and potential activities there 🇺🇦🇨🇭 During our meeting with Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Yevhenia Filipenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine in Geneva, we discussed the challenges Ukrainians face in Switzerland, how we can help solve them, and the importance of informational support. We also learned more about the newly established Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine, which will unite Ukrainians abroad and help counter Russian narratives. One of its key tasks will be developing conditions for Ukrainians to return home. A big thank you to everyone involved for a productive discussion!  Together, we are stronger! 🙌 #Switzerland #Ukraine #support

The IvAlive Educational and Development Center is a place where everyone can find something for themselves, regardless of age and interests 💙 ⠀ We have created a space that combines education, creativity, physical activity, and self-development. The IvAlive Center and KnygAlive Library function so that Ukrainians feel supported and receive practical help in adapting and integrating into a new country, developing their talents, and socializing more easily. ⠀ We also strive to build a cultural bridge between Ukrainians and Swiss by opening our doors to foreign guests. ⠀ Just imagine you are welcome in one place: - current classes ➡️ scroll through the carousel - professional teachers and coaches - friendly and positive atmosphere - development and relaxation - new acquaintances and opportunities - hundreds of unread and fascinating books ⠀ 📲 Follow the link to find out the current schedule of classes: https://t.me/ivalivefund

Three years of pain, separation, and loss. But also three years of strength, unity, and resilience. This time has changed each of us. It showed us who we are and taught us to appreciate life, support, and simple moments of happiness. Over the years, we have seen how death and life stand side by side. That is why we never stop thanking those who make life possible and those who have held and continue to hold the heavens and the earth. Those who save and give hope. Those who teach, work, sacrifice, and help. Those who do not give up, even when it is hard. Those who will forever remain in our memory and hearts as true warriors. Let's remember our most potent weapon that helped us survive 3 years ago — unity. Let's hold on to it; it is the only way we can win back what is ours 🇺🇦

One year ago, we presented "Phoenix Dreams" — a unique project that transformed children's stories, interpreted by artificial intelligence, into fairy tales and illustrations 📖 This book embodies the hopes of Ukrainian children who were forced to leave their homeland because of the war. Each story reflects their dreams, memories, experiences, and unwavering faith in a brighter future. This book is made special by its young co-authors – children who have gone through difficult experiences: 💙 Sofia, 13 years old – injured by a fragment of a Russian shell. 💙 Maria, 11 years old – fled occupied Slavutych with her family, carrying only one suitcase for five people. 💙 Yesenia, 13 years old – was forced to leave her home twice: first in Donbas, then in the Sumy region. Despite everything, they continue to dream and see the world through the lens of kindness and love 🥹 The Phoenix Dreams presentation took place on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion. This book is more than just a collection of stories—it is a testament to resilience, strength, and every child's right to a happy future. Thanks to the project’s visionary, Alyona Grabovska, and the support of IvAlive Foundation, the book has been published in Ukrainian, English, and French—ensuring that the world remembers the true value of peace. 📚 "Phoenix Dreams" is now available in our library KnygAlive. We invite you to explore these heartfelt stories that will leave no reader indifferent 🫂 #books #children #Ukraine #Switzerland #supportUkraine

Join the demonstration in Lausanne to support Ukraine!🇺🇦 Three years of war. Thousands of innocent victims, destroyed lives, a shattered culture and future. In these dark times, support for the Ukrainian people is more important than ever. Our unity is as important as it was in the early days. As the world's attention to the tragedy in Ukraine wanes, we have no right to remain silent. 📣 We call on everyone to join the rally dedicated to the anniversary of the full-scale invasion to remind the world of our struggle and the people who suffer every day. The participation of every Ukrainian abroad is important! 📍We meet on February 24, at 18:00, at Saint Laurent Square. The demonstration is supported by: IvAlive Foundation, Ukraine Centre Lausanne, Together Association, Association AKULA, Ukraine reborn, Comité Ukraine-Suisse #support #Ukraine #supportUkraine #Switzerland #Lausanne

Recently, our team and I had an important event — we held a presentation of IvAlive Foundation results in 2024 and officially presented our IvAlive educational and development center with a Ukrainian library 💡 ⠀ We invited our partners, donors, and representatives of the local municipality to show what we do, what we have already done, what our center is like, and how it all works. Our guests took an interactive tour of the center and got acquainted with the range of books. In addition, our children impressed everyone with their performance. The children's choir prepared songs in Ukrainian and French, which excited the guests. And the performance of the little ballerinas was probably the cutest moment of the evening. We shared our experience with the guests and told them about our partnership with EDUHUB, which allows us to provide classes that will be certified by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. We were privileged to be joined via conference call by Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andrii Vitrenko, who thanked us for helping Ukrainian refugees and called on the Swiss to continue to help us. It was also particularly pleasant to receive greetings from Anne-Catherine Lyon, Vice President of the State Council of the Canton of Vaud and Head of the Department of Education, Youth, and Culture, who in turn conveyed words of support from Isabelle Moret, a member of the State Council of the Canton of Vaud. It is valuable for us that local authorities are taking steps to meet us and recognize our work on the integration and socialization of Ukrainian refugees and our desire to build a cultural Ukrainian-Swiss bridge 🇺🇦🇨🇭 ⠀ At the end of the event, together with the guests, we painted a picture of the Ukrainian symbol of strength and resilience—a bearded cockerel standing on a locker in a bombed-out house. It was important for us to remind the international audience again that our struggle is ongoing and that our nation deserves the whole world's support. If you are in Switzerland, we will gladly see you at our center and IvAlive events 🙌

“Your strategies work if you are ready to manage them” — our insight from the meeting with Iryna Zolotarevych at the IvAlive center. The mentor session with Iryna was a real find for those who are now looking for new opportunities: changing countries or careers, wanting to develop their skills, or influencing their income growth. ⠀ About our speaker Iryna Zolotarevych: 〰️ Advisor to the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine. 〰️ Former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine. 〰️ Founder and CEO of the International Upscaling Coaching Group, which operates in 36 countries. 〰️ Partner of the global Agile Brain project in Ukraine. 〰️ TEDx speaker 〰️ The world's highest-level coach (MCC ICF) helps women, leaders, and professionals achieve what they thought was impossible. ⠀ In a sincere and open atmosphere, everyone could ask questions and express their doubts that prevent them from taking the same steps toward their goals. Someone received powerful insights, just like us, and someone found strength in themselves that had been invisible for a long time💡 ⠀ If you are also looking for support, practical tools, and a motivating environment, we invite you to our next events. ⠀ ➡️ Join our Telegram channel so you don't miss the announcements of new meetings: https://t.me/ivalivefund

Before moving on, we want to summarize the results of 2024 🪄 ⠀ It was a productive year for the foundation. In addition to all the cultural events, camps, lectures, and excursions, we realized one of our team's dreams — we launched a education and development center and a library. ⠀ We implemented each project with great warmth. So, we appreciate everyone who has become part of the IvAlive community. We also express our gratitude to donors, volunteers, and partners who have made the implementation of all projects possible! 💙 ⠀ This year, we plan to be bolder, set ambitious goals and achieve them, and create even more important initiatives. ⠀ Let's remember how it was? 🥰 #IvAliveFoundation #IvannaOnufriichuk #charity #helpUkraine #Switzerland

Recently, we organized a St. Nicholas celebration for Ukrainian refugee children in Switzerland, and I’d love to share what this holiday is about and why it’s so important for kids 🥰 St. Nicholas Day is a day to honor St. Nicholas of Myra, a Christian saint. In Ukraine, we traditionally celebrated this day on December 19 (now observed on December 6 under the new church calendar). St. Nicholas is considered to be the protector of children, bringing kindness, joy, and a belief in magic and miracles. For Ukrainians, this holiday holds a special meaning — it unites generations and symbolizes unity, spirituality, and the warmth of family. On the eve of St. Nicholas Day, children write letters to St. Nicholas, and on the morning of the holiday, they find gifts under their pillows. I still vividly remember my own childhood, waking up each year with my sister and checking under our pillows to see what St. Nicholas had left for us. The thrill of anticipation and the joy of finding gifts are moments that have stayed with me forever. These magical, warm memories inspired our team to make sure every child can experience them, no matter their age or where they are 🥰 That’s why we joined forces with our partners Ukraine Centre to organize another magical celebration for Ukrainian children. Our experience hosting a similar event last year showed just how much these celebrations mean to the children. They bring back a sense of childhood, joy, and celebration — things that have been taken away from many Ukrainian kids far too early. In our current reality, where many Ukrainian children are forced to grow up too quickly, these events offer a chance to give them back the unforgettable moments every child deserves. This year, we poured our hearts into making the celebration unforgettable. Finding a venue was a challenge, and we barely managed to secure a space in time. Once we had it, everyone worked together to decorate it beautifully under the expert guidance of the talented Atelier_fleurs Inna Simachenko.  Our colleagues at the Day Center created an engaging program, while our team, along with our elf helpers, packed gifts. Of course, there were a few mishaps along the way — organizing a big event for kids is never without its challenges — but we didn’t let that stop us 😌 In the end, what mattered most was that we achieved our goal: around 200 children left with big smiles on their faces, their laughter filling the room. Our IvAlive Foundation choir captivated both the kids and the adults with their heartfelt performance. This is exactly what we set out to do — to bring joy, positivity, and a little bit of magic into these children’s lives. Because no matter what is happening in the world, childhood should still feel like childhood. It’s up to us, the adults, to make sure these kids have happy, cherished memories to hold onto and carry with them from these precious years 💞 #ukrainianculture #ukrainiantraditions #charityevent #ukrainiansabroad

We held our second IvAlive Charity Gala, an evening that brought together Ukrainians and Swiss friends. This event not only united our communities but also raised funds to establish the Educational and Development Center for mothers and children, including the largest Ukrainian-language library in Switzerland💙 Since founding IvAlive Foundation, I’ve dreamed of hosting annual events like this. For us Ukrainians, it’s a wonderful opportunity to share our rich culture with friends from around the world. Yet, I want such gatherings to be more than just entertainment, so we decided to make it both enjoyable and meaningful. The main purpose of this year’s gala was to raise funds for an educational and development center for Ukrainian refugee children, their mothers, and local community members. I’ve always envisioned a space where children can explore their talents and discover new interests. Our work with Ukrainian women has also shown us that adults who were forced to flee and start over need similar support and community 😌 The organized event highlighted the talent and creativity of Ukrainian artists. Ukrainian singer and Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala moved everyone with the power and depth of her voice. NovaЯ, the first opera singer in the world to perform on a laser harp, amazed the audience, and opera soprano Nina Ruban offered a special treat for opera lovers. The most emotional performances came from the IvAlive children’s choir and Maria Sviazova, winner of the United Kids Festival. I found myself in tears several times, and I could see many in the audience were just as touched. Thanks to both silent and live auctions — our live auction hosted by my talented Ukrainian colleague Timur Miroshnychenko — we raised tens of thousands of Swiss francs. Auction items included paintings by Ukrainian artists Iryna Sushelnytska and Natalia Korf-Ivaniuk, as well as scarves from the first inclusive Ukrainian atelier Lady Di. Guests also bid for experiences like a stay at Whitepod Original, a visit to Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel Spa, and a chance to co-pilot a small plane with the Flying Club. I am so grateful that our team was able to bring this vision to life. Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported the Ukrainian community here in Switzerland. Your generosity and friendship mean the world to us!😍 #Ukrainianculture #CultureDiplomacy #IvAlive #ivalive #IvAliveFoundation #ukrainiansabroad #ukrainiansinswitzerland #ukrainianinswiss #charitygalaevening #charitygalaevent #charitygaladinner