20 meters of beauty, hundreds of woven flowers, and 200 cherished wishes. On June 11 in Kyiv, during the charitable women’s forum “You Are Allowed Everything,” an official Ukrainian record was set in the “Dimensions” category — “Ukraine’s Largest ‘Wreath of Women’s Dreams’.”
The initiator and record-holder was Anna Purtova, founder of the NGO and volunteer hub “PORT.UA”.
We spoke with Anna about how this symbol was born, what happened behind the scenes, and why this wreath is about much more than just statistics.
The Concept and the First Spark
Anna Purtova shares that the idea of creating the “Wreath of Women’s Dreams” grew out of her daily work with the families of military personnel: wives, mothers, daughters, as well as wounded soldiers, patronage services, and NGOs caring for prisoners of war. She sees every day how much Ukrainian women are carrying right now — from household duties and raising children to constant anxiety and the pain of uncertainty.
Wishing to give them a sense of togetherness, the team decided to create a symbolic art project. Guided by experts from the Book of Records, they chose a length of 20 meters, which allowed as many participants as possible to join in, making the object truly collaborative.
“And the main thing I want to tell all the women is this: no matter how difficult it gets, know that there is a woman nearby who will listen and support you. You are always welcome to come to us,” Anna says warmly.
200 Women and a Special Energy
According to Anna, the organizational process turned out to be the easiest part, as Ukrainian women naturally self-organize around any idea once given a direction. She notes that what pleased her most was not just the result, but the atmosphere of connection built around it.
“The war has separated many, and many of us felt a bit lonelier. The wreath became a wonderful reason to come together: each woman wove in her own detail, her own wish, and at the same time became part of something bigger than herself,” recalls the founder of “PORT.UA”.
Emotions at the Moment of Official Recognition
Recalling the moment when the official record was announced, Anna says her face in the photos conveys far more than any words could. She admits that at that moment, she felt a true surge of inspiration from the loud applause and the unity of two hundred women.
“In that moment, I felt once again that we are a team. And right now, this feeling is especially important — to be a pillar of support for one another, to know that there is a shoulder to lean on and hands holding things together alongside you,” Anna emphasizes.
Significance for “PORT.UA” and the Key Message
Anna stresses that supporting the female relatives of military personnel is one of the key areas of activity for the “PORT.UA” hub. This record served as confirmation that a joint women’s initiative can inspire and unite. Furthermore, thanks to the publicity, even more women will learn about the hub and find shelter and advice there.
The main motto of the forum and the record itself became the phrase: “You Are Allowed Everything” (“Tobi Mozhna Vse”).
“Through my work, I see how often women forbid themselves from feeling joy, being proud of themselves, or simply living fully during wartime,” concludes Anna Purtova. “Therefore, the main thought we wanted to convey to every woman is: you are allowed. You are allowed to be happy, you are allowed not to carry everything alone, and you are allowed to ask for support. Each woman woven into the wreath her own little permission to dream. And when 200 of those wishes came together, it became proof that together, we truly can do anything.”
The “Wreath of Women’s Dreams” entered the Book of Records not just because of its impressive 20-meter length. This achievement became a symbol of how 200 Ukrainian women came together, supported one another, and declared loudly: “You are allowed everything.”
The story of Anna Purtova and the “PORT.UA” team proves that behind every official record lies not merely a desire to outdo others, but a large-scale social mission, genuine human emotions, and the ability to create change together.