final day... but lots of new beginnings.

On Thursday morning, the final day of the #Tech2Empower workshops, we encountered a lively protest surrounding our hotel and bank next door. The group was protesting the flat rate of the Hrynia, 1 Ukrainian Hrynia equals 0.044 US Dollar. Military men were lined up 6 rows deep 10 persons wide on either side of the hotel as well as a bus full of Military parked around the corner for backup.

Before heading up to America House for our final day of workshops, we browsed the under ground markets and beautiful boutique shops for little memories to bring home to share. The woman vendor, here in the photo, was lucky to have a $ conversion booth right next door to her shop. She was a full stop shop helping us convert our US dollars, patient with our indecisiveness and then packing us up for travels.

After the morning training, more on Google Collaboration, we had open time where the NGO Women could meet with all of the tech2empower advisers for questions and collaboration. This was a great moment where you could see how successful our trip was. The women were setting up crowdfunding sites, creating amazing Facebook banners and posts with Canva and sending Google form surveys back to their NGOs to show off their new knowledge!! We learned a lot from these women, even some tech - here is a video that Heather, WAKE co-founder, put together while we were there using a tool called animoto.

 

We celebrated that night at a Authentic Georgian restaurant, a walk through Independence Square and the underground markets.

I arrived home friday at 2p. Thank you all so much for supporting me and my adventure, WAKE and the 45 NGOs! I hope, through these posts you were able to get a feel for WAKE's mission and a small glimpse in to a world of amazing women, their passions and traditions.
 Next trip... Cambodia!

my new Ukrainian friends...

Another packed day of workshops, sightseeing, eating, dancing and getting to know some amazing women.  On the way to the America House for "day 2" of the workshop- I went to St. Sophia’s Cathedral. It was, by far, my favorite site so far. We were not allowed to take photos of the murals inside - they were beautiful- breathtaking. The architecture around St. Sophia's was beautiful as well. There is also a photo of my yummy lemonade with mint and a caffe.

I had to have ANOTHER coffee at the famous Pink Snail and then headed to the America House. The workshop today was on Twitter, Google online collaboration and Crowdfunding... just PACKED! It was also WAKE's volunteer, Donna's birthday! After the workshops the 45 NGO leaders and WAKE team went out to a traditional Ukrainian restaurant, we sang, danced and ate and ate more! Enjoy the selfie of my two new Ukrainian friends.

Need to sleep...




America House

Today was the first day of our Tech2Empower workshop and it was a great success! We arrived at the America House at around 9a and met our host Sasha. He was our IT host who gave us a tour of the beautiful facility and showed us all of the amazing technology they have access too.. like a 3d printer!

The 45 NGO leaders came bustling in at around 10am with suitcases, laptops and open minds and hearts, ready to learn! They were an amazing group, a very different feel then the Entrepreneur group on Monday. These NGO women came from all over Ukraine to take part in the T2E workshop, some knew each other but most did not. After Trish's eloquent welcome to our guests, we spent the first part of the morning watching Beth Kanter do her magic and get these women meeting each other and our WAKE Team.  

I presented my Office Technical Infrastructure after lunch. There were many people interested in moving forward with my back up recommendations, password security awareness as well as getting organized.

 I learned about an amazing tech tool called Canva- an alternative to adobe photoshop and its FREE! The Women loved it and were able to create amazing FB banners and posts, Canva was  presented by another Tech Advisor, Galen.

All of the tech advisors walked back to the hotel after the long exciting day, only about 2 miles,  to breathe some fresh COLD air!

The WAKE Team went out for a celebratory dinner at the Buddha Bar - where we ate Thai food and creme brûlée, with Buddha!

until tomorrow....

 

Tight security!

Today was our day at the US Embassy with 23 Women Entrepreneurs.  These women are interested in using social media and other tools like crowdfunding and info graphics to amplify their businesses and extend their networks!. After we were stripped of our own electronics at the gate, by the military guards, we were escorted into the Embassy. Once in the training room we were required to have an escort if we needed to leave the room for any reason, like to go to the restrooms (which were 20 ft away). So, no photos from the Embassy! However, one of the escorts took our group photo so we may see that and I can post it later! The 2 women escorts were great. One of the escorts was from Melrose MA- close to where I grew up!

I left the Embassy and WAKE team, at noon, with the ED from our host NGO- UWF. I had a date to go back to their office to speak to another NGO leader about their office technical setup. It turned out the NGO didn't have an office but needed help bringing more activity to her sharing platform on her website. So instead, I gave her a mini social media boost!

After, I met up with 4 of my WAKE buddies to visit La Strada-Ukraine- an International Women's Right Centre. It was our turn to hear about their amazing work on prevention of domestic violence, gender discrimination and human trafficking.

We then made it back to the US Embassy to see the amazing Beth Kanter close the meeting and for a reception with the Entrepreneurs. Many thanks were given as well as a song sung by one of the woman attending the workshop. It reminded me of the scene in the movie PRIDE - when the women broke out in song... it was warm and moving.

We were all very hungry after the long exciting day and decided to try the Japanese/Italian restaurant near our hotel called Mafia!


I thought I looked a little Mafia in my formal wear so wanted a photo with our nice Mafia waiters!

I thought I looked a little Mafia in my formal wear so wanted a photo with our nice Mafia waiters!

Tomorrow is the first day of our workshop with 45 NGO leaders - very exciting!
Time to sleep.

Here is a photo from our first day with our tour guide Edith!

Here is a photo from our first day with our tour guide Edith!

busy busy busy

After 15 hours of travel we made it to Kyiv and our hotel at midnight on saturday night. I was able to fall asleep, with a little aid, by 1:30a. We started sunday with breakfast at the hotel … pretty yummy. Lots of sweets, cherry juice and of course COFFEE??

We met our amazing tour guide Edith who walked us to Maidan Square (Independence Square). This is where the protests in Kyiv were in 2014 which led to the fleeing of the President of Ukraine, Viktor YanukovycI

On Sunday the main city street is closed to cars so we walked some blocks to check out the city scene. The city was just waking/cleaning up for the day, it was only 9am.

Our tour bus took us to the Cave Monastery. The monastery was beautiful as you can see the amazing gold tops and intricate detail. We had to wear scarfs to cover our hair and wrap skirts to enter the caves (photo of the wrap to follow ; ))

The Museum of Famines Victims was next- the museum documented the organized famine and the partial list of the millions who had died from the 3 Ukraine famines, the largest being from 1932-1933. The museum is located on Pechersk Hills where there is a beautiful view of the Dnieper River.


We stopped for lunch at a yummy pizza joint and then went to the open markets. We were getting sleepy from eating (and jet lag) so a coffee was needed. A photo of me with the friendly barista… and another Tech Adviser, Gallen, at the open market.

We then had a meeting with an NGO who supported IDPs (internally Displaced Persons) with Children with Disabilities. There were 5 families who shared their struggles about being displaced and supporting their children with disabilities. It was very moving and incredible that the families opened up to us and shared their stories. WAKE brought a donation of tampons to gift to these families.

One of our hosts from the Ukrainian Woman’s Foundation (UWF) Natalia then took us to a Crimean Tatars restaurant called Musafir where we ate lots of doughy baked and fried goodies filled with veggies and meat. The restaurant was run and owned by IDPs from Crimea.

And more coffee…

After dinner we were all walking zombies so we took a fibit fresh air walk around out hotel back around maiden square and found the French Quarter ; )

and more coffee!

We are off to the US Embassy for a workshop with Local Entrepreneurs(I will leave for a meeting with an NGO to talk about their website- hope I can help!)  more later...

 

Getting ready...

Hi - My flight leaves Friday night and I arrive in Kyiv on Saturday night - so lots of rest before the trip begins ; ) My schedule is pretty booked with visits to the US Embassy, Women's Organizations (NGOs) and trainings and workshops. My friend Trish and cofounder of WAKE
 just emailed this article out today describing  the resilience of the Ukrainian people and how women are particularly effected by the current situation.