It is always bright, interesting, and beautiful in the Palace of Independence. So it was this Saturday as well, when the country’s main political venue once again welcomed guests. However, this time the tour was truly special. The Palace of Independence was visited by representatives of the Belarusian Women’s Union, who had addressed the president with a request to visit the Palace. Naturally, the head of state could not refuse the ladies, especially in the Year of the Belarusian Woman.
From now on, delegations from each region are invited to the Palace of Independence: teachers, doctors, agricultural workers, industrial and cultural workers – women who make our country better every day through their work. The first to visit the Palace of Independence were representatives of Gomel Oblast, thereby launching the national project “We are different, but we are united”. Moreover, each regional delegation visiting the Palace will create a unique art object: the Map of Unity. A panel repeating the outline of Belarus will be filled with photographs of women framed by traditional vytinanka. Each regional delegation will bring its part of the vytinanka to the common map. Different faces, different destinies and characters: together they will create a collective image of Belarus, strong and beautiful, just like our women.
“We wanted to leave an unusual and symbolic gift from Belarusian women in the Palace of Independence. We settled on vytinanka, a folk art with deep roots. Its most famous symbol is the Tree of Life. And the map of Belarus resembles the crown of a tree. That’s how the concept came together. Who fills the country with life? Women! The president often emphasizes the role of women who give birth to children, help raise grandchildren, care for future generations. So the idea appeared to make the map of Belarus part of the Tree of Life and fill it with the faces of our women who make our country beautiful, kind, and truly special,” said Olga Shpilevskaya, Chairwoman of the Belarusian Women’s Union.
It is symbolic that an art object full of special meaning will decorate a place long considered a symbol of the country. “The Palace of Independence is a place of attraction for all residents of our country. Every woman understands her significance for the state, her importance for the country. And of course, every Belarusian woman in the Year of the Belarusian Woman should visit the Palace of Independence,” noted Olga Shpilevskaya. She visits the Palace often, but, as she said, this was her first time on a tour. “What impresses most is that the Palace is not a closed place, but truly a people’s place. It is a symbol of our unity because it brings people together. Today women from all districts of Gomel Oblast came here, and here they unite to see all the beauty created together by our people,” she emphasized.
The guests of the Palace of Independence are an example of how to combine family and professional development. Every day, in their workplaces, they write the history of our country; each contributes to its development. Director General of the Gomel trade-and-production enterprise Pharmatisya Lyudmila Sapego admitted that this inspires her to work even better: “Yesterday [on 3 July] we celebrated our main holiday, Independence Day, with great pleasure.
And today our celebration continues in the Palace of Independence. For every woman in our delegation, this is an unforgettable event and very vivid impressions. The Palace of Independence is the heart of our country. And for every patriot, visiting it is an unforgettable event. First of all, one must visit the Palace of Independence to feel even more proud of our country, to realize that we have the most beautiful, peaceful country with an unquestionable leader. I am sure that for all women this will become good motivation. Such meetings, such places energize every member of the Belarusian Women’s Union. I have no doubt that all the women who visited the Palace of Independence today will work with even greater zeal and desire to make our country better.”
To see with your own eyes the halls known throughout the world, to walk through the corridors that have seen dozens of world leaders, to feel the atmosphere in which the head of state works, means to feel your own connection to the fate of the country. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to visit the Palace of Independence, the business heart of our country. It is truly a gift. There is a special atmosphere here, and I am glad to experience it. Everything impressed me: the interiors of the palace, the exhibition of gifts to the President, literally every detail,” said Natalya Glezova, Deputy Director for production at Malinovka-Agro in Loyev District.
The Palace of Independence is not only a political venue but also a cultural center that features unique works of decorative and applied arts and paintings. Every Belarusian woman has a sense of beauty and sees beauty in everything. “History is being made in every hall of the Palace of Independence. And it is amazing to see it all with your own eyes. The emotions are overwhelming,” admitted Alina Gusachenko, Chair of the youth council under the Svetlogorsk District Council of Deputies. “And besides the fact that it is very interesting here, it is impossible to take your eyes off the décor. Everyone notices the chandeliers, the luxury, the refined style: this confirms that Belarusians have excellent taste.”
By the way, the participants of the tour themselves showed stylish choices. The editor-in-chief of the Mozyr District newspaper Zhytstsio Palessya Olga Ardasheva arrived wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of the president and the now well-known quote: “A woman is the main thing. As she says, so it should be”, a new addition to the clothing line under the Merch of the First brand. For the first time, ideas for merch are being proposed not by specialists who work in this field, but by ordinary people. “I hope that soon all women of our country will be showing off such T-shirts and T-shirts with other quotes from the president,” Olga Ardasheva noted. “In the Year of the Belarusian Woman, we should boldly and openly present our ideas and initiatives. And especially we, those who live in the regions, should not hesitate to come forward with our ideas. And one such idea is to update the line of the First’s merch.”
The Belarusian Women’s Union proposed expanding this initiative and announcing a competition. After all, the taste and ideas of Belarusian women deserve to be appreciated at the highest level and nationwide.
