Stand with Ukraine

Saving the world one pysanka at a time . . . ™
An ancient legend says that “as long as pysanky are being made, evil shall not prevail over good in the world.”

Ukraine and her people are in our hearts! Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, our team at Baba’s Beeswax has been deeply affected by the crisis in our ancestral homeland (Ternopil). We believe in the power of pysanky as a cultural symbol of resistance and hope.

Media Feature
Listen to a CBC interview with Stephen Quinn on April 10, 2023: “How resiliency of Easter pysanky tradition gives Ukrainian-Canadians hope.”

What We Are Doing & How You Can Help
We’re committed to humanitarian aid, and we encourage creating pysanky as a non-violent act of solidarity. Here’s how we’re acting—and how you can join us:

Pysanky for Ukraine – Fundraising Kit for Schools

Teachers and students can create their own pysanky with this special fundraising kit, which includes:

1 pure beeswax block
1 medium kistka
4 traditional pysanky dyes (yellow, orange, red, black)
Setup and usage instructions
Tips and hints for making pysanky
Access to an online pysanky tutorial

When you order this kit, $15 from each kit is donated to one of several humanitarian causes of your choice:

Schools can track donations by including their name at checkout.

Other Ways to Participate

Purchase additional supplies (kistkas, beeswax, dyes) to support the cause
Buy “Stand with Ukraine” bracelets—100% of proceeds support a refugee family
Join or host a pysanky fundraising event
Use your voice: share, teach, create, donate

Our Commitment to Support
We offer educational support to fundraisers, including:

Consulting and advice (even via Zoom)
Free teaching aids, posters, and promotional support
Custom kits for events
Event listings and social media exposure

Gratitude & Impact
Because of our customers and community, we’ve:

Sold fundraising kits and held workshops
Raised significant funds for humanitarian organizations (Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Ukrainian foundations)
Supported schools and community groups in organizing pysanky events
Helped refugee families through direct donation matching

“The great gift of pysanky is hope.”
Our customers have contributed workshops, events, donations, and creativity. We stand with Ukraine.

Thanks to our Customers: Examples of Previous Workshops

Bev’s Private Stand With Ukraine Pysanky Workshop – see photos here and here
Drum roll…… $1145 went to the following humanitarian charities:
Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Amnesty International
Ukrainian Foundation
We sold Stand With Ukraine Pysanky Kits, hosted one workshop, two smaller informal get-togethers, and enjoyed being sponsored by Babas Beeswax. I’m sold out of the kits/kitskas and so if you want to order pysanky supplies, you can contact Joan at www.babasbeeswax.com. I don’t think I have ever met anyone with more skill and knowledge about Ukrainian Pysanky than Joan, not to mention supporting a local business that provides quality service and products. Thanks to the Klahanie Canoe Club strata and the caretaker, Benoit, and the staff, Mery. We could not have done it without you. Once again, well done everyone! Make Pysanky – Not War.
Ecole Margaret Jenkins Elementary School – see photos here
Lin’s Private Stand With Ukraine Pysanky Workshop – North Shore Alliance Church
Learning the traditional Ukrainian art of pysanky and how we can weave prayer into art. Raising almost $1400, all proceeds went to the Alliance Global Emergency Response Fund for Ukraine Relief and more donations are still coming in!
Joy’s Private Stand With Ukraine Pysanky Workshops
UBC Forestry | Ukraine Fundraiser – see photos here
Peace & Love for Ukraine Concert
$14,000 raised by Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko:
Due to the amazing support of our community, we raised $14,000 in suppoprt of Ukraine. Donations were given to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Canada-Ukraine Foundation Humanitarian Appeal. Baba’s Beeswax and its customers were proud to be a part of this fundraiser on April 8th.
Penny’s Private Workshops Ongoing proceeds going to The Red Cross
Empowering Ukraine – Joan Brander and Baba’s Beeswax were proud to support this fundraiser hosted by UBC Ukrainian Student Union and UBC Alumni. The aim was to increase intercultural understanding of Ukraine while raising funds for anti-war relief efforts. All proceeds went towards distributing medical and humanitarian relief in heavily affected regions. see photos here
Women Refugees Advocay Project – We helped Liz raise $16,000 in a fundraiser for Ukrainian women and children which was used to purchase life jackets for local rescuers getting people from the occupied of the Dniper.
Easter Saturday event at Sechelt Artisans and Farmers Market – With the help and contribution of Baba’s Beeswax, Janet Ritchie was able to raise funds to send to Tatiana Konoval in Kyiv, Ukraine in support of activities for children. See photos here. See this video of her receiving her gift. We stand with Ukraine!
“Every day I dream and rejoice that I go to work to my pupils, bring them love to Ukraine. Every evening after work I can’t wait to come home to write favorite pysanky, recording the modern history of Ukraine. This is my world, my creative life, I feel good here, I am needed here.”
Tetiana Konoval, Thirty years, a teacher of fine arts and drawing, Honored Master of Folk Art of Ukraine, Member of the National Union of Masters of Folk Art of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, March 13, 2024
Jennifer T. – Voluntary contribution to help a young mother, Maria, and her two children, who fled their war-torn country to find safety and start a new life in Canada
Dawn’s Private Workshop – Voluntary contribution to help a young mother, Maria, and her two children, who fled their war-torn country to find safety and start a new life in Canada