One day in Mariupol: meetings that came together into a project

The head of the city, the “Molodyozhny” Palace of Culture, the Kuindzhi University, the drama theatre and the youth wing of the People’s Front — five meetings in a single day, and every one of them to the benefit of the “Generation of the Victors” project.

One day in Mariupol that held enough to fill a week.

We began with the most important thing: a meeting with Anton Viktorovich Koltsov, the head of the Mariupol city district. The Chair of the Foundation spoke about the “#GenerationOfTheVICTORS” project — a musical and educational project that the “Wings of Dream” foundation is preparing for May 2027, the fifth anniversary of the city’s liberation. The conversation was businesslike and specific: a working contact was established, and Anton Viktorovich immediately named the officials on the administration’s side with whom the project will be taken forward.

After the meeting, together with representatives of the administration, they visited the “Molodyozhny” Palace of Culture — one of the city’s most recognisable historic buildings, on the corner of Prospekt Mira and Kharlampiyevskaya Street. The building dates from the late 19th century and is built of brick from the Kharadzhayev works: over its history it has been the “Continental” hotel, the city’s first private power station, the Palace of Labour and the “Azovstal” House of Culture. Today its historic appearance has been restored: across five thousand square metres the façade, the interiors and authentic details have been brought back and modern equipment installed. The palace will open as a centre of culture and the arts as early as September. And what matters especially for the foundation: the city is ready to make this venue available for rehearsals and for the educational part of the “Generation of the Victors”.

Next — Mariupol State University named after A. I. Kuindzhi. Here, now in his capacity as chair of the “Perspektiva” Association of Lawyers, Advocates and Insolvency Practitioners, Vladimir Kovalev met the vice-rector. They agreed to hold an open lesson for law faculty students in September: advocates and insolvency practitioners will tell the young people about their professions from the inside — no textbooks, real experience. They also discussed the university students taking part in the “Generation of the Victors”.

Then — a meeting with the management of the Mariupol Drama Theatre. They talked through plans for a gala concert on 20 May 2027, the fifth anniversary of the city’s liberation. That very restored theatre which became a symbol of Mariupol’s revival.

And the day ended at the “Kovalev & Partners” office in Mariupol. A meeting with the core group of the People’s Front youth wing: the young people were asked to support the “Generation of the Victors” as volunteers — and rather more was agreed, with office space made available to them for meetings and working briefings. Young people who want to do things — that is what everything rests on.

The main outcome of the day: every meeting was a gain. Everyone we spoke to is ready to support the project and, more importantly, to build relationships for the long term. Which means the “Generation of the Victors” is moving ever more confidently from an idea to a reality.

About the project