Defenders: The Ukrainian Women Who Fight To Be Free
Tuesday was International Women’s Day when the world pauses to celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world. We can commemorate the pioneering spirit of Amelia Earhart, the courageous heart of Harriet Tubman, and the brilliant mind of Marie Curie. In fact, some countries extend the celebration of women’s accomplishments to encompass the entire month […]
SWAN
Tuesday was International Women’s Day when the world pauses to celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world. We can commemorate the pioneering spirit of Amelia Earhart, the courageous heart of Harriet Tubman, and the brilliant mind of Marie Curie. In fact, some countries extend the celebration of women’s accomplishments to encompass the entire month of March.
While some women will be written of in history books, others will only be memorilized by those whose lives they touched. Perhaps we should pause to remember the women whose names might be unknown, but whose courage and strength are undeniable.
A teenage girl who gathers up supplies to offer for distribution to the Ukrainian military.
A mother who protects her children when they’re forced to flee and leave her husband behind to fight.
Women who choose to stay behind and fight to defend their homes instead of departing to safety.
Then there are those who offer them support.
An Israeli doctor who travels to help the wounded.
A Congresswoman who demands help for those being attacked.
An actress who sends her own money and raises more for Humanitarian Aid.
Whether their names appear in history books or not, we can honor the choices they make. Perhaps they take inspiration from a woman who lived centuries ago…
A Woman of Strength
Olga was of Viking origin, and as a teenager, she was married to Prince Igor of Kyiv. After he was murdered by some rebellious subjects, Olga became a young widow with a three-year-old son. As her child was too young to take the throne, Olga became the first female ruler of Kyivan Rus.
The tribe that had murdered her husband had another idea. They had gotten away with murdering her husband so why not demand that she become the wife of their prince — her husband’s killer.
Olga could have given in, but she chose another path. A harder path. She would exact justice on those who had murdered her husband. Thus begins a tale of a clever woman using her wits to take down killers. Finally, she laid siege to the city where her husband had been murdered.
A full year passed as those in the cities and those outside remained at an impasse. Then Olga had another bright idea. Using pigeons, she was able to take down an entire city and finally avenge her husband.
Afterward, Olga enacted reforms, preserved her son’s throne until he could rule, and eventually embraced the Christian faith.
Ukrainian Women Today
Today, women in Ukraine are facing an unprovoked and violent attack against their homeland, their families, and their children. Like Olga, they are standing up in defiance and fighting back. Olga dreamed of justice for her husband’s death. Women in Ukraine today dream of a free country for their children.
People around the world can help them achieve this dream.
Donate to Ukrainian Humanitarian Aid.
Whether one can donate or not, our Ukrainian sisters need our help, support, and prayers. Read a message from Tania, a Swan HR Manager in Ukraine, here. To discover more about how Swan is handling the current conflict, watch this message from our CEO.