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The National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine, which is the leading higher education institution of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, hosted a screening of the documentary film BurningWomen. Sofia Bohomazova, gender equality specialist at the university, said: ‘We are currently taking active steps to promote gender integration and fulfil all our commitments to European integration. Every year, more and more female students enter the university, who will perform risky tasks in their future professional activities. That is why the film BurningWomen is an important example of the fact that, regardless of gender, women can hold various positions and be an example for all women in the country.’ Anna Slyusarenko, Head of the Board of the NGO ‘Tuteshni’, emphasised the importance of the topic: ‘With the film, we want to demonstrate that, along with the SES system, volunteer fire brigades are an integral part of national security. That's why promoting the voluntary firefighting movement and increasing the capacity of volunteer fire and rescue teams is very important.’ The screening of the film became a platform for discussing gender equality, the development of the voluntary firefighting movement, and improving the professional capacity of future rescuers.

At the invitation of the heroes of the film BurningWomen, the screening took place at the place where the film was actually filmed - the Shpaniv Volunteer Fire Brigade. This volunteer fire brigade is one of the most efficient in Ukraine and has been an example of well-coordinated work, public activivism and innovation in the field of safety for six years. The screening brought together all those involved in the team's history: participants, organisers, partners, activists, as well as the film's protagonists, whose stories became the basis of the documentary. Their common goal is to support the voluntary firefighting movement and share their experience for its development. According to Anna Slyusarenko, the film's screenwriter and producer, the filmmakers did not try to idealise or criticise the characters. The goal was to capture the reality and draw attention to the importance of the voluntary firefighting movement. A special emphasis is placed on the fact that not only men but also women can join the security sector, which is how the team highlights equality of opportunity. Volunteer fire brigades are a driver of civic activism and safety. The film and the discussions around it are intended to inspire new communities to create such initiatives, because it is not only about safety, but also about a life filled with mutual assistance and development! The BurningWomen project was created with the support of the Ukrainian Women's Fund in cooperation with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities.

In Kyiv at the Local Government Forum ‘Successful Together’, the AllUkrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities hosted an event where Tuteshni presented the documentary, BurningWomen. This project is about women who are changing reality. They voluntarily chose the path of courage, support and determination, becoming the heart and soul of the fire and rescue movement. The film tells the story of their strength and dedication, which unites communities and inspires others. At the forum, participants had the opportunity to watch a teaser of this story, which igniting the desire to create volunteer fire brigades and support those who are not afraid to be there in our most difficult moments. We believe that our presentation will touch the hearts of representatives of more than 100 territorial communities and encourage them to support this important movement that changes lives and strengthens communities. The project was created with the support of the Ukrainian Women's Fund in cooperation with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities.

"This is not just a film about the challenges faced by women who have chosen the difficult path to become a volunteer firefighter. They not only perform their duties professionally, often in extreme conditions. But they also carry the light of humanity where it would seem that there is none left at all. This film is about supporting women who burn with enthusiasm to help others, but don't burn out," says one of the heroines of the film Nataliya Vodko , a representative of the psychological support unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Volyn region, a lieutenant colonel of the civil defence service. "Every day, every minute, every second, our entire country is in an emergency situation. There are women who take machine guns in their hands and go to defend the country. Great respect and gratitude to them. And there are women who take up another roll - a firefighter - and also go to protect our country, only from the other side of the front. They have the courage and care to face the emergencies that occur in their communities. These women are members of voluntary fire brigades from different parts of Ukraine. And their contribution is invaluable," says Anna Slyusarenko , Head of the Board of the NGO Locals. The screening was attended by representatives of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine , Ukrainian Women's Fund , Solidarity Fund PL in Ukraine , as well as the heroes and heroines of the film and the creative team. This is a "creative" tool that will help to tell Ukrainians about what voluntary fire brigades are, how and why they are created, who can join them and whether there is a place for women in this field. Together with the State Emergency Service, local self-government bodies, organizations that develop voluntary firefighting in Ukraine, the creators of the film are planning screenings in different regions of Ukraine to promote the formation of new voluntary fire brigades and the addition of new members to them. The documentary project "BurningWomen" was created with the assistance of the Ukrainian Women's Fund in cooperation with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities , in partnership with Ukrainka .