«In the name of a woman: for the glory of Minsk» A women’s dialogue of generations took place in Molodechno

An inspiring meeting «In the name of a woman: for the glory of Minsk» took place in Molodechno. Women’s Dialogue of Generations. The platform brought together experienced women leaders of organizations and public associations with young women who are just starting their professional career. The meeting, organized by the Molodechno district branch of BP «Belaya Rus», became a space for a frank conversation about women’s leadership, historical memory and innovations. Young women heard the stories of women whose experiences became a guide for the young participants.

The director of the Zonal State Archive in Molodechno, Inna Pudakevich, was the key speaker of the event. Opening her speech, she noted that understanding the role of a Belarusian woman is a demand not only to appreciate her colossal contribution to the present, but also to project her role for tomorrow. «In many ways, the future belongs to a woman. After all, it is in the family, thanks to the mother, that the foundation of the strongest, kind and hardworking generation that will build tomorrow’s Belarus is laid», the director of the archive emphasized. She gave impressive figures: women make up more than 54% of the country’s population, Belarus ranks 9th in the world on the sub-index of women’s participation in economic life, and 70% of women are represented in state bodies. Belarusians successfully master even the most difficult professions, including piloting military aircraft. However, the speaker honestly pointed out the existing challenges: the double burden of unpaid housework, the need to combine motherhood and career, as well as the importance of psychological support and popularization of STEAM disciplines among girls.

Special attention was paid in the report to the connection of time. Remembering famous Belarusian women – Eufrosinia Polotskaya, Vera Khoruzhya, Daria Domracheva, Marina Vasilevskaya – Inna Pudakevich emphasized: «Preserving these names in the memory of descendants is an important task of archivists today and tomorrow». She also tried to dispel the myth about the «keepers of the dust of the ages». According to her, an archivist is an important mediator between the past and the future. It is such qualities as empathy, intuition, attention to detail and patience that allow a woman archivist to «hear» a document, to feel the pain and joy hidden between the lines of official summaries and private letters. And to do it qualitatively and modernly.

Respected young women also shared their work experience and life wisdom with the young participants: Tatiana Shafalovich, Irina Belorosets, Maria Staselovich, Irina Zavadskaya and Tatyana Kurilovich. The glorious deeds of many of them have already been recorded in the history of the region and are safely stored on archive shelves.

The finale of the event became truly symbolic. New members of the «Belarus» party, including Tatiana Podorovskaya, the archivist of the National Assembly in Molodechno, received certificates and badges, which from this day on oblige them to be worthy successors of the glorious traditions of Belarusian women – those who preserve memory, create and lead. Kalina Kaputskaya, chairwoman of the Molodechno district branch of Belaya Rus, who moderated the meeting, emphasized: ««In the name of women. In the glory of the Ministry» – these words after the meeting do not sound like a slogan, but like a good farewell from colleagues and like-minded people».

1-9. During the event