Daryna Kapranova lives in the capital and works as an agile coach in an IT company. She has been supporting “Starenki” as a volunteer and donor for a long time and encourages people around her in every possible way. In this interview, Daryna shared her impressions of tea parties and told us what motivates her to support the foundation.
Daryna, please tell us a little about yourself and your help at “Starenki“.
My full name is Daryna Kapranova. I work at the Materialize IT company as an agile coach. Before the full-scale war in Ukraine, I was a “Starenki” volunteer organizing aid delivery. I felt I was doing the right thing, and I liked it. However, with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, I had fewer opportunities for this. Sometime later, I found out there would be a tea party and decided to join in helping with its holding. So I collected money for a tea party at my work company. We’ve got even more than expected. In this way, my colleagues and I could cover not one tea party but several.
Daryna, within your company, you promote the idea of helping older people. How does your team feel about helping the seniors?
Very positive. Once, I shared photos (in which seniors were so happy) from a tea party. It made my colleagues very happy, too, and brought positive emotional feedback. When there were new tea parties, my colleagues and I donated money again and again to cover another event for older people.
Our foundation offers many ways to help older people. Please tell us: why did you choose to help hold tea parties?
I really like this format of support for older people. I came to the winter tea party personally and brought some food. It’s an incredible atmosphere. Very graceful grandmothers. Very handsome grandfathers (there are fewer older men, but they’re also present). Someone is fixing their hair. Someone is putting on lipstick. Everyone’s waiting. You are coming in. They welcome you. The volunteers are so adorable and kind. Everyone tries to make it a holiday, and everything is just amazing. Lovely napkins on the tables, an exciting event agenda, and mini-gifts. Even I was just impressed by how festive the atmosphere was at the tea party.
I’ve also seen tea-party photos when a floristry master class was held — incredible. I believe every woman who came home with flowers from this master class also took a spirit of joy, flourishing for at least a week afterward. That’s why it’s a super warm and cozy format, and it echoes in my heart.
Daryna, please, tell us: why do you help older people?
Because they have nobody else to… and I’m the one who can. I think it’s a perfect match. Plus, I have my grandmother, who lives far away. She is not alone. But all the same: when I help other seniors, it feels like my grandmother will also be better for it. This is how it works in my mind.
How did you find out about our fund?
I learned about your fund from a friend. She helped you too. She also told me about the format of helping with food kits and about holding tea parties. This friend and I went for deliveries together. Then I also included a friend in the aid delivery.
Why did you choose our fund to help older people?
Your foundation inspires trust. You have describe everything yo do very clearly. Very transparent. A simple and great goal. I read about you and thought, “Cool, I really want to be like you.”
We are very grateful to Daryna for this conversation and her sincere support. Her experience helping “Starenki” shows how vital caring and giving positive emotions to people who need it most are. Together we can do more: join to help and invite your friends and families to support older people!