Ukraine Is Turning Cleanups Of War-Torn Buildings Into Raves
By Nicole Rodrigues, 26 Jul 2022
When in doubt, party the pain away. That’s exactly what Ukraine is doing as it incentivizes its citizens to attend daytime cleanups around the country by hosting raves at the sites of war-torn buildings.
As volunteers shoveled away the rubble and took care of the debris, a DJ would be stationed nearby with full equipment and decks blasting Euro Tech music—and for just one moment, everyone could forget the war and pretend they were back at the raves and festivals that have been woven into the youth culture of Ukraine.
This was a movement that they thought had been lost to the pandemic and the war, but they are now reclaiming it and doing good at the same time.
The Repair Together initiative was set up by young Ukrainians who had already been hosting raves as a way to contribute to the recovery efforts in the country.
Raves are currently being held at destruction zones in the city of Yahidne, where the damage was especially bad. Volunteers from the capital, Kyiv, the western city Lviv, and even international help from Portugal, Germany, and the United States have all rallied together to party and rebuild the town.
A video from the organization user captures a scene from one of the restoration projects where people work together to the electric beats of dance music.
So far, 15 homes have been cleared and reconstructed thanks to the efforts of the raves. Due to a curfew set for the citizens, clubs, and festivals have been curtailed. However, where there’s a will to party, there is a way to party and the determined youth of Ukraine have shown that in the face of adversity, they have remained resilient and hopeful.
[via ABC Australia and Euronews, Photo 96439055 © Merlot Levert| Dreamstime.com]