The fate of a woman is the fate of the Motherland: a unique project dedicated to the Year of the Belarusian Woman was presented in Vitebsk

• Indeed, today we are witnessing a truly historic event. The declaration of the Year of Belarusian Women by our President is not just an honor for contemporary women, but also a great responsibility. With this project, we aim to show everyone, especially the youth, the magnitude of the mission of our heroines, real women of our land, who have glorified and continue to glorify our region with their labor, courage, perseverance, and talent," said Marina Novitskaya, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee, Chairperson of the Regional Organization of the Belarusian Women's Union, at the opening. "The stories presented at the exhibition are multifaceted and inspire new achievements. Here, even paintings created with the help of artificial intelligence convey the vibrant spirit of the times in which our women have distinguished themselves. This exhibition will be accessible to a wide range of residents of the region; it should be seen and felt by as many people as possible.

The exhibition tells about women of various professions and callings, women who became heroes in peaceful working days and in the formidable years of war. The very beginning is the great enlightener of the Belarusian land – Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk. And here is Matryona Markevich from Sennensky district – the ornament embroidered by her hand on a rushnyk became the basis of the country's official flag. Courageous patriots, who ardently love their Motherland – Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko, Nadezhda Troyan, Efrosinya Zenkova – Heroes of the Soviet Union. Their lessons of fearlessness and devotion to duty are the best example for future generations. Heroes of Socialist Labor Anna Mazalo and Lidiya Naumova showed their contemporaries and future generations that diligence, multiplied by determination, brings excellent results. The bright poetic talent of Evdokiya Los, the beautiful stage national images of the People's Artist of the BSSR Zinaida Konopelko touched the hearts of millions of compatriots and remained in the memory of generations.

Our contemporaries who have reached certain heights in serving the Fatherland also cannot but inspire admiration. Among those whom we are especially proud of are the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kochanova and the head coach of the national team of the Republic of Belarus in trampoline gymnastics Olga Vlasova.

– Everything best in life is associated with the female name, – noted Irina Levkovich, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic for Economy, Budget and Finance, Head of the Main Directorate of Trade and Services of the Regional Executive Committee. – I was fortunate to communicate and be friends with some of the heroines presented at the exhibition. Vera Semyonovna Kulagina always radiated light, her warmth was transmitted to others. And how our wonderful leader Maria Yakovlevna Chumanikhina cared for people! Natalia Ivanovna Kochanova is an example of impeccable service to the Motherland, at the highest state level she represents the interests of our country, and at the same time she is a wonderful mother and grandmother.

Zoya Krot, a veteran of the women's movement in the region, shared her memories of amazing benefactresses and associates. She spoke about how Vera Kulagina, who led a group of intelligence agents in Vitebsk during the Great Patriotic War, cared for orphans, large families, and mothers of conscripts in peacetime. What a unique personality Maria Chumanikhina was, and how the women's council initiated the annual award named after Tusnolobova – Marchenko, which honors women mothers of the Vitebsk region.

– The project "A Woman's Fate is the Fate of the Motherland" is a chronicle of destinies, the pages of which are filled with courage, wisdom, and beauty, – noted Olga Ivanova, Chairperson of the Vitebsk City Council of Deputies. – It turned out to be such a collective image of a working woman, which is a driver of modernity.

Creative teams from Secondary School No. 31 of Vitebsk named after V.Z. Khoruzhey and the "Vitebsk" Cultural Center, the folk dulcimer ensemble "Garezlivyye Peryzvony" took part in the exhibition opening.

The newspaper "Vitebskiye Vesti" is creating a chronicle of the region, where the main characters are people, professionals in their field, creators, and patriots. We continue to talk about them on various platforms and to different audiences. And today our heroines are women whose destinies are closely intertwined with the fate of the Vitebsk region and our Motherland. Perhaps, looking at them, having studied their biographies, you will discover Belarus anew, the Fatherland of courage and glory with the tender name of the feminine gender.

After the grand opening of the exhibition, a discussion platform on the topic "Woman in the Family and at Work" was held, during which issues of strengthening family values and protecting the rights of motherhood were discussed.

Vitebskiye Vesti