– Guest article: Solomiia Repekha
Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Youth Ambassador 2025–2026
Founder, By Choice Collective
I was in middle school when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. I still remember my teachers inviting our class to write postcards to Ukrainian soldiers serving on the front lines. Many young men from my hometown had already volunteered to defend our country, making the initiative feel deeply personal.
I spent a long time writing my message, trying to make it as heartfelt, genuine, and encouraging as possible. Even as a child, I hoped that a few simple words could bring comfort to someone far from home.
Today, I am an adult living thousands of kilometres away from Ukraine and my hometown. Although I’m far away, I’m grateful that I can still support Ukrainian soldiers, medics, and volunteers on the front lines through Postcards to the Front.
It feels incredibly meaningful to be writing these postcards again. Together with my sister @olena.repekha (IG), I had the opportunity to write messages on several beautiful postcards that are on their way to Ukraine. We hope our words bring even a small moment of comfort and express our gratitude to those defending Ukraine.
On Canada Day, Postcards to the Front celebrated the incredible milestone of sending more than 50,000 postcards to Ukraine’s front line Defenders via both Canada and Australia branches. It’s a remarkable achievement and a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness and solidarity can make a real difference.
If this initiative speaks to you, I encourage you to take part. Writing a postcard takes only a few minutes, but it can mean so much to someone on the front lines. Simply reach out to Postcards to the Front, and they will be happy to guide you through the process.
Every postcard is a reminder that Ukraine’s Defenders are seen, appreciated, and never alone.
#SolidarityWithUkraine
Ukrainian Canadian Congress Youth Ambassador Program
In 2025, I became involved with the work of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) after being selected as one of only 16 Youth Ambassadors from across Canada to join the second cohort of the UCC’s prestigious Youth Ambassadors Program, representing Toronto, Ontario.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is the national umbrella organization representing the Ukrainian Canadian community. Through advocacy, education, leadership development, and community initiatives, the UCC works to preserve Ukrainian culture and heritage, strengthen Ukrainian Canadian communities, and promote continued Canadian humanitarian, political, and military support for Ukraine.
One of its flagship initiatives, the Youth Ambassadors Program, empowers emerging young leaders to develop the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to create meaningful change in their communities while advocating for Ukraine.
Throughout my term, I have participated in monthly leadership seminars covering topics ranging from public policy, advocacy, public speaking, media relations, fundraising, project management to community leadership.
Alongside fellow Youth Ambassadors from across Canada, I have grown my leadership skills while gaining the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to turn ideas into meaningful action.
For instance, I attended the 28th Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians in November 2025, advocated for Ukraine’s needs on Parliament Hill in Ottawa through meetings with Members of Parliament and government ministers, and created By Choice Collective – a storytelling project dedicated to sharing inspirational stories of people from around the world who have chosen to stand with Ukraine.
To learn more about this work, to meet the other inspiring Youth Ambassadors and program alumni, or to discover how the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is empowering the next generation of leaders while strengthening support for Ukraine, please visit the official UCC Youth Ambassadors Program page and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress website.
By Choice Collective
By Choice Collective is an online storytelling platform that I created as part of my role as a Youth Ambassador with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (2025–2026). The project was founded on a simple yet powerful idea: to celebrate the people around the world who have made a conscious choice to stand with Ukraine.
Through personal interviews presented in a narrative and visually engaging format, By Choice Collective shares the stories of volunteers, advocates, humanitarian workers, language learners, community leaders, and everyday people whose actions reflect compassion, courage, and solidarity. Each story highlights that support for Ukraine goes beyond borders, cultures, and backgrounds – it is a choice rooted in shared humanity.
By amplifying these voices, the project aims to inspire hope, strengthen connections between Ukrainians and their allies, and to remind people that acts of solidarity, no matter how big or small, have the power to make a difference. Similar ideals and outreach as Postcards to the Front with postcard warriors all over the world.
To date, By Choice Collective has featured nine inspiring individuals from the United States and across Europe, with many more stories to come.
To read these stories of solidarity with Ukraine and to follow the project’s journey, visit By Choice Collective on Instagram.
Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) – https://www.ucc.ca
Youth Ambassadors (UCC) – https://youthambassadors.ucc.ca
Follow By Choice Collective on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bychoicecollective/.
Not sure how to write postcards to Defenders of Ukraine? Check our “How to send postcards” page, and our Ukrainian phrases page as we ask every postcard warrior to try at least one phrase in Ukrainian. Maybe you want to organize a group of family, friends or others to write postcards? We have a page with suggestions about How to Run a Postcard-Writing Workshop.
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