“ROC. Communicators During the War”: a forum for people who support others in the darkest times
What people talk about when everything is held together by people
On November 21, at UNIT.City in Kyiv, the forum “ROC. Communicators during the war: everything is held together by people” was held, with 1+1 media as its general media partner. The event united those who build bridges between people every day and do not let them remain alone with their grief, silence, and fear at a time when the war destroys cities, roads, and strikes the bonds with their closest ones. Communicators are mostly non-media individuals who lead people from despair to hope, and who know what war is not from someone else’s stories.
“I heard many honest stories, at times very difficult ones, but I understand that this is our reality. I managed to talk and embrace colleagues and like-minded people — this is an important part of the event”, — shares Oleksandr Kolesnichenko, head of the NGO Therapy of win.
The ROC forum became a space for support and exchange of thoughts among people who usually support others themselves. A soldier who returned from captivity and learned to speak again so that his words would give strength to others. A woman waiting for her missing husband who created a support group so that no one else would have to wait alone. A doctor who saved and supported the wounded during shelling. A veteran who turns the pain of loss into a language of support.
“ROC. Communicators During the War: Everything Is Held Together by People” does not seek correct formulas or loud speeches but creates and communicates examples of communication that restores. This, in fact, is the essence of ROC (Recovery Oriented Communication), and the strategic goal of the event is to establish a public standard of communication that will help preserve unity and support the recovery of people and communities during the war and later, in the postwar period.
“The only thing that continues to hold me over the past years is people who care…” — Serhii Bashynskyi, military chaplain.
“An interesting and important event about people and humanity. About how those who care for others hold on. How those who have gone through a terrible, inhuman experience preserve their light and where they find strength to support others” — comments Hanna Mokrousova, head of the NGO Blue Bird.
“The culture and traditions of society do not change in one day or even a year, so such events must become systemic and popular in our country”, — says Volodymyr Hupalo, officer of the operational psychological support unit.
This year, the speakers of the forum “ROC. Communicators During the War” included: Olena Hushchyk, special correspondent of TSN; Olha Mazenkova, director at 1+1 Production, wife of a missing Defender, participant of the 1+1 media project “Life After Scars” and activist of the Association of Families of the Territorial Defense Forces Defenders of the AFU “Women of TDF”; Anastasiia Rozdolska (Iskra), medic of the NGO Frontline Medics; Yurii Hrytsai, veteran and chef; Liubov Kachor, head of the “We Are Free” direction at the charity foundation With an Angel on the Shoulder; Hanna Mokrousova, head of the NGO Blue Bird; Yurii Hudymenko, veteran and head of the Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defense and Alisa Kovalenko, documentary filmmaker and veteran.
Partners of the forum included MHP Poruch, Viyar, Vodafone, Cominbank, HAVAS Ukraine; the general media partner was 1+1 media, with information support from TDF Media.
