Stages of Resilience

Svitlodarsk was once her stage. Raisa Ivanova, a cultural organizer and director, had been the heartbeat of a small town of 15,000 — a place where the Vuhlehirska Power Station had breathed life into every corner. People knew her, respected her, sought her advice.

Her world was performance. Not just on stage, but in life. A woman who could transform spaces, create connections, bring communities together.

When war came, it divided more than it conquered. Her pro-Ukrainian stance made her a target. The town split into two camps, friendships fractured, and suddenly, survival became her only performance.

She left everything behind — apartments, cars, a lifetime of collected memories. Her escape was carefully choreographed, guided by friends who understood the danger.

Briefly living abroad, she felt the pull of home. Ukraine was her script, her stage, her everything.

Senior Chudo Village wasn’t just a new location. It was an unexpected act in her life’s play. A place where her nervous system could rest, where her throat — worn from years of directing and speaking — could heal.

Her poetry continued. Her spirit unbroken.

To the younger generation, she offered a powerful message: “We didn’t teach patriotism deeply enough before. Now, everything must be done through love. This is a transformation, a test we will pass with dignity.”

To Dell Loy Hansen, she would speak of spiritual strength, of understanding that transcends borders.

At 69, Raisa was more than a survivor. She was a storyteller, a creator, someone who could find hope in the smallest details.

Her plans were simple: Believe in liberation. Believe in victory.

In this village, she continued her life’s work — connecting, creating, hoping.