Souspilnist Foundation and students and professors of the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv planted the 12 symbolic trees on the campus as part of the #алеясолідарності initiative.
The first alley was laid on April 21, 2022, in a park by the lake in Ivano-Frankivsk by the Souspilnist Foundation team, journalists from across Ukraine, and local enthusiasts. On May 6, the KNU enthusiasts continued the initiative.
Last fall, maple trees were planted in an alley near the university’s geography department in honor of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Today, there is an Alley of Solidarity across from it, with the same maple trees.
“We are different from our enemies because they ruin things, and we build things. They fell trees, and we plant trees. We’ve planted young trees to commemorate those members of our university family who sacrificed their lives. Each little tree and each branch will keep their memory,” said KNU dean Volodymyr Buhrov.
One of the trees was planted in memory of Oleksandr Makhov, a journalist and service member who died on May 4 near Izium.
”Oleksandr worked at the front lines as a journalist and died as a volunteer. It’s a great shock for us, and we’re all thinking about him these days. But I’d like to turn to life-affirming things because Oleksandr was full of life. I’m sure he’d want to be remembered within this very context. So let’s remember him, be happy and thankful,” said independent journalist Arsen Tsymbaliuk.
The Kyiv Alley of Solidarity will symbolize an unshakeable spirit of Kyiv residents, a memory of the difficult spring of 2022, and strong Ukrainians overcoming all difficulties and helping each other.
We call on our colleagues, friends, and like-minded people in Ukraine and abroad to join the Alley of Solidarity initiative. In times of trouble, Ukrainians not only can unite in a common struggle against the occupiers but also create beautiful initiatives in the name of our shared victory.
