BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:adamgibbons/ics METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VEVENT UID:21630@offbeat.amsterdam SUMMARY:Through the windows: The Resilience of Ukrainian Women in a Changin g Europe DTSTAMP:20260430T180917Z DTSTART:20260527T140000Z DTEND:20260527T170000Z DESCRIPTION:On 27 May\, VOX-POP presents an in-depth panel on Ukraine’s evo lving role in\nEurope at a pivotal moment. As the continent faces major ge opolitical shifts\,\nthe discussion explores how Ukraine is not only respo nding but actively shaping\nnew European realities. politically\, cultural ly\, and socially. It also considers\nhow identity\, resilience\, and live d experience influence Europe’s future\, with a\nfocus on women as agents of change whose contributions across diplomacy\,\nculture\, education\, an d military service are redefining leadership in the\nEuropean space.\n\nTh e programme includes a panel discussion\, followed by an open dialogue and Q&A.\nIt creates space for exchange between speakers and audience. The pa nel brings\ntogether voices from academia\, culture\, heritage\, internati onal relations\,\nsport\, and military experience to explore Ukraine’s cha nging role in Europe.\n\nThe discussion looks at how war and political cha nge are reshaping ideas of\nsecurity\, identity\, and institutions. It als o highlights how culture\, education\,\nand representation help build unde rstanding between Ukraine and Europe. A key\nfocus is women’s leadership a nd resilience\, including experiences from the\nfrontline and everyday lif e in times of crisis. It also considers how Ukrainian\nstudents in the Net herlands navigate these changes and build new connections\nacross Europe.\ n\nProgramme schedule\n16:00 Doors open\n16.15 - 17.30 Panel discussion\n1 7.30 - 18.30 Q&A\n18:45 - 19.00 Closing\n\n\nSPEAKERS\n\nDr. Krisztina Laj osi is a senior researcher and lecturer\, Program Director for\nEuropean S tudies at the University of Amsterdam. An expert on Central and\nEastern E urope\, she works at the intersection of culture\, politics\, and society. \nKnown for her sharp interdisciplinary perspective\, she connects academi c insight\nwith contemporary debates and brings complex ideas to wider aud iences through\nmedia\, talks\, and public events.\nNina Pugach is an offi cer of the Army of Ukraine. She speaks about the deep\ntransformations wit hin military units in 2024–2026\, the psychological and\nmotivational shif ts among soldiers\, and the emergence of new forms of leadership\nand mutu al support. Her perspective reveals the reality of the frontline —\nhonest \, dignified\, and free of pathos\, grounded in lived experience and daily \nresilience.\n\nOlena Kovalenko is a Ukrainian Champion in water jet ski racing and a top\nmanager of major sports projects\, including the Olympic Games. With over 25\nyears of professional experience in marketing\, she is also a certified coach. As\nthe founder of her own agency\, she collabo rated with global brands such as\nCoca‐Cola\, Snickers\, and Adidas. Curre ntly based in the Netherlands\, Olena\norganizes cultural programs\, exhib itions\, and social spaces that build bridges\nbetween Ukraine and Europea n countries.\n\nIsabell Burmester is an expert in the international relati ons of Eastern Europe\nand Eurasia. She is Assistant Professor of IR in th e Political Science\nDepartment at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) curre ntly researching how\nInternational Organizations reacted to norm violatio ns by Russia.\n\nMaria Hilda van Schaeren is a Cultural Heritage Researche r who works at the\nintersection of cultural heritage\, gender studies\, a nd European cultural policy.\nHer research focuses on representation\, mus eum practices\, and the role of\nculture in strengthening social dialogue. \n\n\nPRACTICAL INFORMATION\n\n\nEntrace to this event is free\, but due t o a limited capacity we kindly aks you\nto sign up for the programme in ad vance. You can do so via the registration\nlink.\nLocation: VOX-POP\, binn engasthuisstraat 9 (BG3 - ground floor).\n URL:https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/through-the-windows-the-resilience-of-u krainian-women-in-a-changing-europe GEO:52.3690637;4.894763 LOCATION:VOX-POP - Binnengasthuisstraat 9\, 1012 ZA Amsterdam STATUS:CONFIRMED CATEGORIES:amsterdam-centrum,burgwallen,discussion,exhibition,games,gender, q&a,talk X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:On 27 May, VOX-POP presents an in-depth panel on Ukraine’s evolving role in Europe at a pivotal moment. As the continent faces major geopolitical shifts, the discussion explores how Ukraine is n ot only responding but actively shaping new European realities. politicall y, culturally, and socially. It also considers how identity, resilience, a nd lived experience influence Europe’s future, with a focus on women as ag ents of change whose contributions across diplomacy, culture, education, a nd military service are redefining leadership in the European space.

The programme includes a panel discussion, followed by an open dialogu e and Q&A. It creates space for exchange between speakers and audience . The panel brings together voices from academia, culture, heritage, inter national relations, sport, and military experience to explore Ukraine’s ch anging role in Europe.

The discussion looks at how war and politica l change are reshaping ideas of security, identity, and institutions. It a lso highlights how culture, education, and representation help build under standing between Ukraine and Europe. A key focus is women’s leadership and resilience, including experiences from the frontline and everyday life in times of crisis. It also considers how Ukrainian students in the Netherla nds navigate these changes and build new connections across Europe.

Programme schedule
16:00 Doors open
16.15 - 17. 30 Panel discussion
17.30 - 18.30 Q&A
18:45 - 19.00 Closing < /p>

Speakers

Dr. Krisztina Lajosi is a senior researcher and lecturer, Program Director for European Studies at t he University of Amsterdam. An expert on Central and Eastern Europe, she w orks at the intersection of culture, politics, and society. Known for her sharp interdisciplinary perspective, she connects academic insight with co ntemporary debates and brings complex ideas to wider audiences through med ia, talks, and public events.
Nina Pugach is an offic er of the Army of Ukraine. She speaks about the deep transformations withi n military units in 2024–2026, the psychological and motivational shifts a mong soldiers, and the emergence of new forms of leadership and mutual sup port. Her perspective reveals the reality of the frontline — honest, digni fied, and free of pathos, grounded in lived experience and daily resilienc e.

Olena Kovalenko is a Ukrainian Champion in wate r jet ski racing and a top manager of major sports projects, including the Olympic Games. With over 25 years of professional experience in marketing , she is also a certified coach. As the founder of her own agency, she col laborated with global brands such as Coca‐Cola, Snickers, and Adidas. Curr ently based in the Netherlands, Olena organizes cultural programs, exhibit ions, and social spaces that build bridges between Ukraine and European co untries.

Isabell Burmester is an expert in the int ernational relations of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. She is Assistant Profe ssor of IR in the Political Science Department at the University of Amster dam (UvA) currently researching how International Organizations reacted to norm violations by Russia.

Maria Hilda van Schaeren is a Cultural Heritage Researcher who works at the intersection of cult ural heritage, gender studies, and European cultural policy. Her research focuses on representation, museum practices, and the role of culture in st rengthening social dialogue.

Practical information

Entrace to this event is free, but due to a limited c apacity we kindly aks you to sign up for the programme in advance. You can do so via the registration link.
Location: VOX-POP, binnengasthuisstraat 9 (BG3 - ground floor).

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