Coffee with Lesya: a literary café at the Scientific Library to mark the poet’s 155th anniversary and Ukrainian Women’s Day

On February 25, the cozy intellectual space of the Scientific Library of the Zaporizhia Polytechnic National University  was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and a special atmosphere of sincerity, where Lesya’s words came to life in conversations about strength, female destiny, and the inevitable victory of spring. This event united the student body in a joint celebration of the 155th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka’s birth and Ukrainian Women’s Day.

The choice of the “coffee shop” format was not accidental. Few people know that Larysa Kosach was a real coffee lover. Special attention was paid to the touching story of the relationship between Lesya Ukrainka and Olga Kobylyanska. Students learned about their tradition of “drinking coffee together”, sharing the most intimate things, and supporting each other in difficult times.

The participants recited poems by Lesya Ukrainka, which today sound prophetic and completely out of context. To add a little magic to the meeting, the library prepared “Lesia’s Predictions” — each guest received a fortune-telling quote from the poet’s works.

The event was attended by Vice-Rector Andriy Ivanchenko, who expressed support for youth cultural initiatives and noted the relevance of Lesya’s words for today’s youth.

To better understand the figure of Lesya Ukrainka, the youth took part in the game “True or Fake,” debunking old stereotypes. Watching thematic videos helped us see Lesya Ukrainka for who she really was: a stylish, progressive European.

The central topic of the discussion was the fate of the modern Ukrainian woman. We talked about the multifaceted nature of her roles in this difficult time:
– a defender who defends Ukraine
– a mother and wife who is a reliable rear
– a daughter who studies for the future

The event was held with the full support of the student union and the student government. The organizer and moderator was Nataliya Fedko, head of the Scientific Library sector.

Thank you to the participants for a warm evening!