Ukraine Unveils Global Resilience Vocabulary

Ukraine has presented a Global Vocabulary of Resilience featuring experiences and practices from 38 countries. First Lady Olena Zelenska unveiled the publication during the Sixth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, describing it as a practical outcome of the gathering.

The publication contains 38 concepts, social practices, institutional models and cultural frameworks linked to resilience. Examples include Australia’s mateship, Norway’s dugnad, Estonia’s Tiigrihüpe, Germany’s Erinnerungskultur and South Africa’s Ubuntu. The concepts are organized around four themes: surviving, standing together, acting and making meaning.

Each entry outlines a concept’s origins, role during crises, potential lessons for other societies, and limitations or cultural sensitivities. More than 45 experts contributed to the project, which was developed with Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, diplomatic missions and international partners, including the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

Zelenska also presented Ukraine’s contribution, “Sofiynist,” a concept linking the will to live, the strength to fight, wisdom, shared values and action. She said the publication aims to create a common international language for resilience and called on universities, researchers and international institutions to expand cooperation in the field. The digital version is available through the Summit’s Global Platform.