Za Lyubov Project for SVO Families Presented

At the House of Friendship of Peoples in Izhevsk, a long-awaited presentation of the project «Za Lyubov» took place, aimed at preserving family values, strengthening the institution of the family and supporting families of participants in the special military operation (SVO). This meeting united women with children and expectant mothers waiting for their men to return home, who are defending the freedom and independence of the Motherland in the SVO zone, and those whose husbands heroically died while carrying out combat missions. The organizer of the event was the Permanent Commission of the State Council on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, led by Elena Derbilova, who also heads the regional Headquarters of the Committee of Families of Soldiers of the Fatherland (KSVO) and the Council of Women of Udmurtia. The event became an important milestone in the development of the project in the region.

The presentation was attended by Deputy Chairman of the State Council – Chairman of the Permanent Commission on Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy Ivan Cherezov, the direct author of the project «Za Lyubov» – First Deputy Chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for Support of Veterans and Their Families, Head of the KSVO of Samara Region Yekaterina Kolotovkina, co-author of the project - founder of the social movement «Being a Mom», family consultant, perinatal psychologist Alyona Shkurko, as well as representatives of the Administration of the Head and Government, ministries and departments, volunteers and partners of the project. All those gathered expressed their readiness to continue cooperation.

Vice-Speaker of the republican parliament Ivan Cherezov emphasized in his speech that activists are doing a very great and important thing by supporting those who create a strong home front for the fighters, helping women who have lost their husbands to continue living and raise their children. «I know how much strength, energy, time, and attention you devote to projects and support for families of participants in the special military operation. You are doing very important and necessary work that not everyone is capable of. This project clearly shows that when everyone — the authorities and society — becomes involved in solving a problem, everything is solvable, everything is achievable,» said Ivan Cherezov. His words were met with applause.

The «Za Lyubov» project is a comprehensive support program for pregnant wives of SVO participants and women raising children under three years old whose husbands are at the frontline. It has twice received support from the Presidential Grants Fund and today unites hundreds of women across the country. As Yekaterina Kolotovkina recounted, the idea for the project was suggested by life itself. «I myself am the wife of a participant in the special military operation, the spouse of an officer, and I have three children who were born in different regions of our country. I know how difficult it is to cope when your husband is far away and you are alone in an unfamiliar city, literally without help from relatives and close people. With the start of the special military operation, women began to contact us who were in the maternity hospital but their husband could not come. That is how the program «Za Lyubov» appeared, which is now being implemented in 13 regions of our country,» shared Yekaterina Kolotovkina. Her story evoked a lively response from the listeners.

Udmurtia joined the project among the first regions, becoming an example of effective joint work by the state and society united by a common goal. Chairman of the Permanent Commission on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs Elena Derbilova noted in her speech: «Of course, our project is still, one might say, very young. We launched in December last year and we are growing together with our participants and their children. Udmurtia became part of a small number of pilot regions where this project is being implemented. It is very gratifying that the project is gaining more friends. We have a very serious interdepartmental group working, we have been supported by the Head of the Udmurt Republic, the Chairman of the State Council, the Government, the deputy corps, ministries, institutions — with such a large team we help our mothers, young and expectant, wives of SVO participants to overcome the difficulties they face. There are many caring people, patrons, sponsors who support us, and the girls get the most important thing — a sense of support, the feeling that you are not alone.» Working as a team yields tangible results.

Despite the relatively short implementation time in the republic, the project has helped dozens of women not only to endure a difficult situation, but there are cases in its history where, through joint efforts, the most precious thing — life — was saved. One of the participants, Olga, learned of her husband«s death when she was pregnant. It was the support of like-minded people, other mothers like herself, that helped her avoid critical decisions and save her child. Olga came to the meeting with her son. This story clearly demonstrates how important support is.

Another participant, Veronika, entered the project in her seventh month of pregnancy. Today she is raising her son Nikolai, and she calls her fellow participants family. «I learned about the project through social media. I came with a request to find out what benefits are entitled to wives of SVO participants. That«s where our journey began. I got into the project in my seventh month of pregnancy and, essentially, gave birth together with the project. My husband was on the special operation. The first thing the project gives is psychological and moral support. Additionally, they hold various interesting and useful events for us. Communication, support, chat groups on social media are very important. You can write at any time, they always answer, always help, advise where to go, what to do. If any difficulties arise, we will always figure it out,» said Veronika. Her example inspires other participants.

An important part of the event was the opening of a photo exhibition that clearly demonstrates the emotions of women whose husbands went to the front: from anxiety and acceptance to finding a circle of supporters and friends within the project. The curator of the «Za Lyubov» project in Udmurtia, Nelli Gavrilova, explained: «We wanted to show all the emotions of the wives of SVO participants. There are three stages. The first is when he left for the special operation zone and the woman was left alone with children or pregnant, and does not know where to turn, what to do. The second stage is acceptance that she is the support, the home front, it is responsibility for children, for the family. And the third stage is when she is among her own people. This is our project, surrounding with warmth and attention, showing participants that they are not alone.» The exhibition allowed a better understanding of the women«s experiences.

The meeting was filled with warm, joyful emotions, and a real gift for everyone was the performances of young artists — pupils of kindergartens and school students from Izhevsk, creative groups from the capital of Udmurtia. A festive atmosphere reigned throughout the meeting.