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PLAYBOOK SLUG: Ukraine (add?) De-Occupation Store – Kosstutschenko
HEADLINE: Market in Ukraine's Kharkiv region helps out-of-work farmers get by
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 09/xx/2024 at
BYLINE: Anna Kosstutschenko
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Kharkiv, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Pavel Suhodolskiy
VIDEO EDITOR: Pavel Suhodolskiy
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Story Hunter
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:28
TYPE: TVPKG
VID APPROVED BY: KE
VIDEO FOR REFERENCE: https://www.holosameryky.com/a/lavka-deokupatsii-proiekt-kharkivskykh-volonterok-dlia-dopomohy-selianam-v-oblasti-/7762106.html
((INTRO))
[[Russia’s invasion has riddled the farmland in Ukraine's Kharkiv region with land mines, leaving many local farmers without a job. But since the occupying forces left, some are growing what they can, where they can, and selling it to make ends meet. And they’re getting help from a group of volunteers. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
These tomatoes, onions and melons have just been picked from the de-occupied territory of the Kharkiv region, says volunteer Maryam Yol.
Yol, a former advertising producer, was born and raised here. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, she has dedicated all her time and energy to volunteer work, at first joining the regional charity Volonterska.
Then in spring, Yol and her friend Natali Artyushenko launched a volunteer nonprofit project they call the de-occupation store ... hoping to help local farmers earn some extra money.
((Radio: Yol says people in the region are struggling to find employment.))
((Maryam Yol, Volunteer)) ((UKR))
“There is no work in the villages… Before the war, most of these people worked in the agricultural sector and in tourism, but since the fields remain heavily mined, they cannot work.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Maryam Yol))
These volunteers buy whatever farmers can grow in their own yards and unmined areas and sell it at a makeshift farmers’ market in Kharkiv city.
((End courtesy))
((radio: Again, Maryam Yol))
((Maryam Yol, Volunteer)) ((UKR))
“The majority is sold to our partners like local restaurants, whom we crossed paths with in what feels like a past life”
((NARRATION))
Maria Korchma is one of the farmers who rely on the volunteers for help. She lives in the village of Studenok, about 170 kilometers from Kharkiv city.
She used to breed nutria as a beef and chicken alternative, but when she was forced to evacuate the farm, she released them all into the wild.
((Maria Korchma, Farmer)) ((UKR))
“We thought we’d take them back when we return, but only one animal came back.”
((NARRATION))
Now, she is planting vegetables and greens in her back yard and sells the small crop to De-Occupation Store volunteers.
The six other farmers in Studenok also sell their produce to the De-Occupation Store and live off the proceeds.
It helps that the store is in a trendy area of Kharkiv city. Many of the customers are young people, says
((Natali Artyushenko, Volunteer)) ((UKR))
“They just smell these vegetables and say, ‘Yeah, these are real vegetables…”
((NARRATION))
Many regular customers buy a lot of the fresh food and then bring it to the military hospital in Kharkiv city to help wounded soldiers.
((Anna Kosstutschenko, VOA News, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 18, 2024 08:50 EDT
BylineAnna Kosstutschenko
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
