Vira Chaikovska-Tarlykova awarded for services to Volodymyr

Public activist Vira Chaikovska-Tarlykova received the city distinction "For Merits to the City". This award marked the culmination of her years of work for the benefit of Volodymyr and all of Ukraine. The ceremony took place at the beginning of the 62nd session of the Volodymyr City Council, which was held on 23 October.

Assessment from community leadership

Mayor Ihor Palyonka presented the award to Ms Vira. In his address, the mayor emphasised the significance of her contribution not only to the local community but to the entire state.

«Повірте, що сьогодні це дуже великий вклад у розвиток не тільки нашої громади, а й взагалі-взагалі – України. Тому я сьогодні вас хочу привітати від всіх присутніх, від мешканців громади, побажати і надалі – ті цінності, які ви сьогодні пропагуєте для наших мешканців, для України – продовжувати втілювати їх в життя. Хай вам все вдається, при доброму здоров’ї і, звичайно, при найшвидшій нашій перемозі» ("Believe me, today this is a very significant contribution to the development not only of our community, but generally – of Ukraine. Therefore, today I want to congratulate you on behalf of everyone present, on behalf of the community residents, and wish you to continue – those values that you are currently promoting for our residents, for Ukraine – to continue implementing them in life. May everything succeed for you, in good health and, of course, with our earliest victory"), said Ihor Palyonka.

The decision to award the distinction was adopted at the previous session upon the proposal of the Volodymyr branch of the NGO "Union of Ukrainian Women".

Merit of Maidan and the team

Accepting the distinction, Vira Chaikovska-Tarlykova thanked them for the high evaluation but noted that it was the result of joint effort.

«Дякую за таку високу оцінку. Коли я була депутаткою міської ради, ми боролися за утвердження нашої держави, прославляння нашого міста. І сьогодні я хочу сказати – це не моя заслуга. Це заслуга Майдану, це заслуга "Союзу Українок"» ("Thank you for such a high evaluation. When I was a city council member, we fought for the affirmation of our state, for glorifying our city. And today I want to say – this is not my merit. This is the merit of Maidan, this is the merit of the 'Union of Ukrainian Women'"), the public activist emphasised.

She also thanked those who stood by her side during the Revolution of Dignity: «І сьогодні хочу подякувати тим людям, які йшли поруч зі мною по Майдану – це велика праця» ("And today I want to thank those people who walked alongside me on Maidan – this was great work").

Long-term experience and public initiatives

Vira Chaikovska-Tarlykova is a well-known figure in Volyn Oblast. She has worked as the director of the LLC VTP "Phoenix" for over 35 years, which allowed her to earn the title of "Honoured Worker of Tourism of Ukraine". She also heads the Volyn branch of the NGO "Union of Ukrainian Women" (the head of the organisation as a whole is Oryslova Sydorchuk), is a co-initiator of the creation of the "Ancient Volodymyr" State Historical and Cultural Reserve, and leads "Maidan of Volodymyrshchyna".

Among her key achievements are:

• the establishment of a charitable foundation to help children with disabilities;
• facilitating the installation of the first memorial plaque to the fallen ATO soldiers in 2014;
• the implementation of patriotic and cultural-educational projects;
• contribution to local toponymy, in particular facilitating the return of the city's historical name without the "-Volynskyi" prefix.

For her activities, Vira Chaikovska-Tarlykova has already been awarded the Order of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, the "For Selflessness and Love for Ukraine" medal, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine distinction "Strong in Spirit".

History and personal values

In her speech, Ms Vira mentioned the over-century history of the "Union of Ukrainian Women" and emphasised the importance of raising a new generation.

«Я не хочу, щоб таке вам казали, я не хочу, щоб у вас такі були думки. Це історія. І я сьогодні працюю над тим, щоб союзянська родина виховувала те покоління українок/українців, які будуть говорити: "Я горда в тім, що я українка"» ("I do not want such things to be said to you, I do not want you to have such thoughts. This is history. And today I am working on ensuring that the Union family raises that generation of Ukrainian women/men who will say: 'I am proud that I am a Ukrainian woman'"), she stated.

The daughter of the awardee, Lyudmyla Chaikovska, who heads the Brovary branch of the NGO "Stop Corruption", commented on the event, calling her mother a role model to follow.

«Можу назвати свою маму справжнім взірцем для подальшого шляху і здійснення правильного вибору у межах діяльності. Саме мати вклала в мене принцип того, що Україна – це не влада, не партія і не окремий політик. Україна – це свобода, гідність, незалежність і право народу обирати власне майбутнє. Не кожен, хто помилявся, був ворогом своєї держави, але кожен має знайти в собі мужність переосмислити минуле й визнати, коли власна позиція суперечила цінностям, за які українці заплатили надто високу ціну. Справжній патріотизм же починається не з гучних слів про любов до Батьківщини, а з готовності захищати її свободу, навіть коли це вимагає визнати власні помилки» ("I can call my mother a true role model for the further path and making the right choice within the scope of activity. It was my mother who instilled in me the principle that Ukraine is not the authorities, not a party, and not a specific politician. Ukraine is freedom, dignity, independence, and the right of the people to choose their own future. Not everyone who made mistakes was an enemy of their state, but everyone must find the courage in themselves to rethink the past and admit when their own position contradicted the values for which Ukrainians paid too high a price. True patriotism, however, begins not with loud words about love for the Motherland, but with the readiness to defend its freedom, even when it requires admitting one's own mistakes"), said Lyudmyla Chaikovska.

The "Union of Ukrainian Women" also congratulated Vira Chaikovska-Tarlykova, calling the award a source of pride for the organisation: «Для нашої великої союзянської родини ця нагорода особлива гордість. Адже сила Союзу Українок у жінках, які не лише бережуть українські традиції та цінності, а й щоденною працею творять майбутнє своїх громад та України» ("For our great Union family, this award is a special pride. After all, the strength of the Union of Ukrainian Women lies in women who not only preserve Ukrainian traditions and values but also create the future of their communities and Ukraine through daily work").

In addition, the Chaikovska family has been providing shelter to displaced persons since 2014, opening the doors of the "Phoenix" recreation base on Lake Svyatyz for them.