On April 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Białystok-based representatives of Belarusian NGOs and initiatives in an introductory Q&A format. More than 40 representatives of cultural, media, educational, human rights, and civic initiatives took part in the discussion.
The meeting focused on the current realities of Belarusian projects in the region and their most pressing challenges:
- the situation around the Novaya Ziamlia Hub, including staffing shortages and lack of funding;
- issues related to legal stay, additional restrictions from banks, lengthy international protection procedures, and social concerns (including pensions).
At the same time, the meeting showed that Belarusian identity endures and continues to grow thanks to the people behind it. Invictus 1863, a reenactment club, presented a historical project, “Workshop of Belarusian History” — a space for lectures, workshops, and physical activities. Białystok Dziki, a football club uniting Belarusian, Polish, and Ukrainian players, has become a strong example of a successful joint initiative. On April 29, Kamunikat.org will open a bookstore in Warsaw, hosting a presentation of a book by Uladzimir Arlou.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “When you see how many Belarusian projects there are in Białystok and how much life they have, it confirms that Belarusian identity is preserved thanks to people and their work. Even in exile, we can continue doing what matters for Belarus.
We discussed important issues. For me, it was very important to hear what Belarusians are facing in their work and in emigration in general. We will work on addressing these challenges”.
