Today, a presentation of the project titled “Book-Journey. Crimea is Ukraine” was held in Kyiv. The goal of the project is to promote the topic of Crimea, the history and culture of Ukraine’s Indigenous Peoples, as well as to highlight, preserve, and develop the cultural heritage of Crimea.

This initiative is aimed at reflecting on Crimea’s cultural past, emphasizing its ties with mainland Ukraine, and supporting the diversity of Ukraine’s Indigenous Peoples: the Crimean Tatars, the Karaites, and the Krymchaks. This project is particularly important for children born after the occupation of the peninsula, who do not know the real Crimea.

As part of the project, an exhibition titled “The Alphabet of Crimea” for children and adults opened, presented in two languages — Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar. Each letter of the alphabet will tell about the cultural diversity of the peninsula and its Indigenous Peoples. The exhibition will be held at the Gulliver Shopping Mall for two weeks. In addition, an animated film is scheduled for release at the end of October.

Also, during the presentation, a panel discussion was held reflecting on the culture of Ukraine’s Indigenous Peoples.

The speakers at the discussion included the Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov, Crimean Tatar identity project manager Mavile Khalil, cultural manager of the Book-Journey project and educator Dara Duzhak, Director of Information Policy and Strategic Communications at Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) Sabina Ablyaeva, producer of 1+1 media and founder of the Real History project Akim Halimov, and public figure Leviza Dzhelyalova.

In her opening remarks, Mavile Khalil noted that Crimea is much more than climbing Chatyr-Dah or Ai-Petri, more than swimming in the sea; Crimea is the homeland of three Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine: the Crimean Tatars, the Krymchaks, and the Karaites, who have no other home.

Akim Halimov remarked that the history of Crimea is part of the history of Ukraine, and our history has been connected since the Middle Ages.

“Crimean Tatars are now scattered across the world: the majority in Crimea, part on the mainland of Ukraine, some are fighting, and some are in other countries. Russia monitors the activities of our people and represses their relatives who remain in Crimea,” emphasized Refat Chubarov.

Leviza Dzhelyalova stated that the family is the greatest value for the Crimean Tatars and emphasized that the native language is essential for raising children, as it is a part of the people’s values, the foundation upon which all other elements of national consciousness are built.

The project is being created by the authors of the national project “Book-Journey” with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. The partners include Ukrzaliznytsia and Novikova Agency.