RC Kharkiv Spirit | History of Ukraine for Europeans

The Rotary Club ‚Kharkiv Spirit‘, historian Oleksandr Alfiorov, designer and calligrapher Oleksiy Chekal collaborated on an educational project.

Strategic Goals
The aim of this project is to create an international educational initiative that promotes the idea that Ukraine is a part of Europe. To achieve this, we plan to produce an illustrated book on the history of Ukraine that is accessible to a wide audience. Additionally, historian and author Oleksandr Alfyorov will deliver a series of lectures to our European friends and partners.

The book’s concept. New Perspective
Ukraine lacks a comprehensive historical concept due to Soviet historians erasing entire periods of its existence for decades. It is our responsibility to recreate the long and thorny path from the Slavic tribes to modern-day Ukraine.

Traditionally, it is believed that Ukraine has existed as a state during certain periods, while losing its statehood during others. The author’s new perspective presents the path of Ukrainian statehood as a continuous process of search, struggle, and attempts, rather than a ‚dotted line‘.

The role of the book
To present the historical development of Ukraine.
To provide a comprehensive historical overview for both Ukrainians and Europeans in a single book.
To explain to Europeans ‚who we are and what we are.‘
To debunk most of the Muscovite myths about Ukraine.
To convey the main message to European readers: ‚Ukraine is Europe‘.



Author
Oleksandr Alferov
Ukrainian historian, radio host, public and political figure, a PhD in History.
He is known for his media-friendly approach to history and has a popular YouTube channel with 390 000 subscribers. On his channel, he educates Ukrainians about history and debunks muscovite myths about Ukraine.
The historian collaborated with the Azov regiment and served as the head of their press service from 2014 to 2015.
Alfiorov is currently an officer in the Armed Forces, with the responsibility of motivating the personnel of the Third Assault Brigade. 

Book designer
Oleksiy Chekal
Ukrainian graphic designer, calligrapher, and art critic who specializes in complex intercultural and interlanguage design tasks in the field of museum, scientific and religious projects (Christianity, Judaism, Islam).
Oleksiy works as a calligrapher and typographer with different scripts in Europe and the Middle East. He also has over twenty years of experience in creating fonts, brands, book designs, and monumental graffiti. 
He is currently a visiting professor at the Florentine Academy of Classical Arts.