Celebrating Ivana Kupala Day: Community, Culture, and Solidarity with Ukraine

Iris, Rosemary and Jordan, representing Kent With Ukraine had the great pleasure to spend a warm summer afternoon supporting fundraising efforts for Ukraine at a wonderful event organised by the Ukrainian Community in Kent.

Despite the heat, the atmosphere was uplifting, joyful, and deeply meaningful, as the community came together to celebrate Ivana Kupala Day which is one of Ukraine’s most cherished cultural traditions.

The event was a vibrant celebration of Ukrainian heritage, featuring traditional folk music, dancing, and crafts that brought people of all ages together. Ivana Kupala Day, with its roots in ancient customs celebrating nature, renewal, and togetherness, provided a fitting backdrop for us to gather further support from within Kent's Ukrainian diaspora for our projects.

Beyond the colour and creativity on display, this was, at its heart, another successful fundraiser in support of Ukraine. Once again, the Ukrainian Community in Kent backed by strong support from the ordinary people of Kent, demonstrated its extraordinary ability to turn cultural celebration into tangible support for those affected by Russia’s ongoing war. Events like this not only raise vital funds, but also strengthen the bonds between communities here in Kent and those enduring unimaginable hardship in Ukraine.

Reflecting on the event Cllr Jordan Meade said:

'My congratulations and sincere thanks go to everyone involved in organising and delivering such a successful event. Their commitment, energy, and generosity continue to make a real difference, and Kent can be proud of the role its Ukrainian community plays in standing up for freedom, culture, and humanity. Kent With Ukraine is proud to support the continued fundraising efforts of the Ukraine Community in Kent.

A personal highlight for me was winning a Patron dog lead in the raffle. It was especially meaningful given the opportunity I had last November, during a visit to the Chernihiv region, to meet Patron—the heroic bomb detection dog whose work has become a powerful symbol of courage, resilience, and hope in Ukraine. That connection served as a poignant reminder of why these fundraising efforts matter so much'.