Friends!

Friends! Today we celebrate 145 years since the birth of Konstyantyna Malycka, Ukrainian writer, known under the pseudonyms Vera Lebedova and Chayka Dnistrova.

Malycka was born on the 30th of May, 1872 in the village Kropyvnyk, in the family of Greek-Catholic priest. She graduated from the Lviv seminary, then was a teacher at the public schools in small towns in Galicia and Bukovina. In addition, she taught in Lviv Ukrainian Pedagogical School Girls' Association.

Konstyantyna was active woman. Intelligent and educated, she was convinced that all Ukrainian women also have to be educated, intelligent and nationaly conscious. Therefore, Malycka became Deputy Head of the International Union of Ukrainian women, was one of the founders of the "Women's Society of Bukovina." Konstyantyna also took an active part in social and political life, founded the choir, places for "Prosvita".

During the First World War, the Russian authorities deported woman to Siberia. But there her patriotic spirit did not die. Since 1919 she has lived in Krasnoyarsk, has become the first Ukrainian school teacher. After five years of Malycka returned to Lviv. She continued her mission – dedicated her life to science, culture and the struggle for women's rights. And wrote. Her poems and stories for kids were not just interesting - they carried in a warm light. She printed her works in magazines "Young Ukraine", "Peace Child", "Dawn" almanacs "New house", "Teacher", "Women's destiny" and others. She wrote serious scientific and educational texts. Malycka performed with journalistic articles on topics of spiritual emancipation of women, published the book "On the women's movement."

Konstyantyna also was the author of many Sich songs that lifted the patriotic spirit of youth. Her poem "Why, why, why, my land" has become almost a folk song.

Konstyantyna died in Lviv on the 17th of March, 1947.

Friends! In this blog post I would like not only to remember the story of Konstyantyna Malycka, but also highlight the role of women in society. This woman was struggling for achieving legal and de facto equality with men. The problems that confronted the Ukrainian women during the life of the writer and nowadays are very similar - they require active citizenship and inclusion in the fight for national revival.