Flowers for 120 women from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania
Our House is raising €5,398.80 for 60 bouquets and 60 flowering plants. At 30 small gatherings in Vilnius, we will give these flowers to 120 women to thank them for their anti-war and volunteer work. We will buy every gift from refugee and migrant women who have started floral businesses in Lithuania.
The work that too often goes unseen
When someone arrives in Lithuania after fleeing the war, there is usually a person on the other end of the phone helping her work out what to do next. Someone translates a letter, helps her find a place to stay, or goes with her to an appointment. Much of this everyday work falls to women volunteers. Some of the women helping others are themselves rebuilding their lives after fleeing the war or facing political repression for speaking out against it.
Their work is often taken for granted, as if women can always find another hour, answer another call, or take on one more responsibility. Some face mockery or harassment for the work they do and the positions they take. Many rarely hear a simple thank-you.
We want to give 120 women that thank-you in person and take the time to say what we are thanking each of them for.
Why we want to sit down together
It is hard to speak about reconciliation while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. For people whose homes, families and lives have been torn apart, even the idea of sitting at the same table can be painful. Trust takes time, and joining a conversation is a choice each woman makes for herself.
A peace agreement can end the fighting. It takes much longer to undo the habit of judging a person by her passport, treating her as an enemy, or reaching for violence when we disagree. That work can begin while the war is still going on.
In Vilnius, women from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania are already helping one another. Through these gatherings, we want to give them time to hear what each has lived through, understand what she has done for others, and talk about what they can do together. Giving someone flowers is a small way to open that conversation. For us, it is a first step in a long and difficult process of reconciliation.
What each gift makes possible
A paid order for a woman rebuilding her livelihood. We will commission the bouquets and potted plants from refugee and migrant women who started floral businesses in Lithuania after leaving their countries because of war or repression. Starting over abroad, often alone and under financial strain, takes time. These orders will pay for their work and, with their permission, give us a chance to introduce their businesses to people who may become future customers.
Recognition for a woman who keeps showing up for others. At each of the 30 gatherings, we will honour four women, one from each of the four communities. Two will receive bouquets and two will receive flowering plants in decorative pots. We will thank each woman for a specific contribution. With her permission, we will share her story and explain why we chose those flowers for her. These stories will show what women from different countries are already doing together, even when war and repression push their communities apart.
Stronger relationships between Our House and partner organisations. Among the women we want to honour are volunteers from organisations that have worked alongside us. The gatherings give us a chance to thank them directly, learn more about the work they do, and build relationships that can last beyond this campaign.
Who is behind the campaign
My name is Volha Karach. I’m a Belarusian human rights defender and the director of Our House Centre for Human Rights and Relief, a nonprofit based in Lithuania. This campaign is organised by Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian women who found refuge here after fleeing war or political persecution, together with Lithuanian women who supported us as we rebuilt our lives.
What your donation will fund
Fundraising goal €5,398.80
- €2,399.40 for 60 gift-wrapped bouquets at €39.99 each.
- €2,999.40 for 60 gift-wrapped flowering plants in decorative pots at €49.99 each.
Support Bouquets for Peace. Your contribution helps pay one woman for her work and gives us a chance to thank another for hers. Thank you for helping us make room for those first conversations in Vilnius.
