UWC Vice President Farion sheds light on Ukrainians in Mexico City

by Marta Farion, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Vice President for North America and Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). 

Source: Farion on Facebook

Did you know there is an active Ukrainian community in Mexico City? I had the honor to attend a special event titled “Amor Infinito por la vida – Mexico y Ucrania” (Infinite Love for Life) – a fashion show of national costumes of Ukraine and Mexico, a celebration of diversity in life, – of diverse people united through a desire for peace and understanding, who share many common elements and values in art, culture, dignity, with respect of freedom and human life. 

The show was a fundraiser for soldiers who suffered disabilities during the war in Ukraine. As a show of love and support, the Mexican costumes were modeled by young people with various disabilities, who belong to a supportive organization. The event was sponsored by the company ONEST/Smart Logistics, Mexico’s largest logistics company, whose owner supports the values and aspirations for peace and independence of Ukraine. 

I travelled on behalf of the Ukrainian World Congress to embrace our sisters and brothers from Ukraine who live in Mexico, and invite them to join the family of Ukrainians living throughout the world, united under the Ukrainian World Congress. I want to express my thanks to Laryssa Reifel, president of the Ukrainian Culture Center in Los Angeles, for making all the contacts with the community in Mexico City, and for accompanying me on the trip. 

The Embassy of Ukraine in Mexico is located in a beautiful hacienda style building, – large, spacious, and inviting. We met with Ambassador Oksana Dramaretska and her diplomatic staff. For many reasons, the mission of the Ukrainian embassy in Mexico is complicated, and one of the reasons is the powerful Russian influence and disinformation, and the support of the Mexican government for Russian politics and influence. Next to the United States, the influence of Russia and China in Mexico can be felt and seen. Fortunately, the people of Mexico have a tradition of ethics, family, dignity and freedom, and they are sympathetic to the suffering of the people of Ukraine during the war.

Despite that situation, the Ukrainian community of several thousands comes together in Mexico City under the banner of the organization Casa de Ucrania. They hold events, support a small Ukrainian children’s school, engage in a Ukrainian Choir, have contacts with artists, journalists, and academics. The choir consists of Ukrainian and Mexican singers who sing both Mexican and Ukrainian songs, under the baton of the extraordinary conductor Elisa Shmegelsen, who speaks many languages, including Ukrainian, and sings one of the best versions of the Ukrainian national anthem I ever heard, and without any accent. Many of the immigrants who immigrated to Mexico are originally from the Kharkiv area – educated professionals. More about the community in the attached video from the brilliant community leader Lesia Koltykova, co-founder of the Casa de Ucrania. 

Together with our host Tanya Tsvyk, also co-founder of Casa de Ucrainia, we had an opportunity to visit the Museum of Archelogy, one of the wonders of the world, with beautifully displayed ancient architecture, sculptures, scriptures, art of the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. We also included a visit to the magnificent the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Bienaventurada Virgen María a los cielos). The building of the cathedral began in 1524 by the Spanish Conquistadores. The size, magnificence, gold and marble took my thoughts to wonder how many thousands of Aztec men had to work on the structure, bringing materials from the mountains, and climbing to the highest steeples. As the cathedral was built on top of one of the main Aztec temples, and the area is prone to earthquakes, the structure has moved significantly since it was built. 

We also visited the Aztec pyramids, also one of the world’s wonders that brings us to a sense of humility witnessing what the ancient world accomplished, and we inherited, including astronomy, engineering, natural medicines, art, music, and beauty. The gardens of varieties of cacti, including the gigantic cactus, with their flowers and fruit also made an impression. 

On the last day of our visit, right in front of our Hotel at Paseo de la Reforma, we witnessed history in the making – huge crowds of people from the entire country, mostly from organized labor unions, who came to the inauguration of the new president of Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum, the first woman and Jewish person to lead Mexico in the country’s more than 200-year history as an independent nation. La Presidenta Sheinbaum is expected to continue the policies of her predecessor and political mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who also serves as head of the ruling party. There are no primary elections in Mexico, so the next candidate is appointed by the previous president. I add this political detail because Ukraine needs friends in the Global South, specifically in Latin America, and I hope that the new president will bring more diversity and independence in political policies. 

I am proud of how much the small Ukrainian community has accomplished in Mexico City, and hope we can collaborate. United we are Strong.