“Circle of Resilience”: How the Fishermen Club of Ukraine Brought Veterans and Their Families Together Through Fishing
On 13 September, the “Circle of Resilience” physical activity and wellbeing event took place at Nastine Lake in the village of Druzhnya, bringing together more than 100 participants. Veterans, veteran women, their family members, and residents of the Borodyanka community and nearby settlements came together to spend the day outdoors and take part in a sport fishing festival.
That day, 35 teams competed on the lake. Participants fished using feeder tackle, kept a close eye on their equipment, and waited for that familiar moment when the rod tip signalled a bite.
For the NGO Fishermen Club of Ukraine, events like this are particularly meaningful. We know that fishing can be much more than a sporting competition. A few hours by the water can give a person the opportunity to simply breathe out, shift their attention, spend time around other people, and reconnect with the simple things that help restore a sense of everyday life.
Professional judges and instructors supervised the competition. They supported participants with their equipment, ensured compliance with sport fishing rules, and reinforced one of the key principles of the competition: every fish caught was safely returned to the water.
The day also had plenty to offer for those who were not taking part in the competition. A sports area with cornhole and badminton was available for children and adults, allowing each family to choose how they wanted to spend their time.
Perhaps this was one of the most important features of the event. You did not have to be an angler to feel part of it. Some came to compete, others to support a loved one, while others simply wanted to spend a Sunday together with their family. The lake became a place where all these stories came together.
For veterans, returning to everyday civilian life can involve rebuilding routines, reconnecting socially, and finding activities where they can simply feel comfortable being themselves.
That is why shared activities can matter well beyond a single event. Sport, fishing, time outdoors, interaction with other veterans, and spending time with family can all create opportunities to reconnect with social life in a way that feels natural and comfortable.
At the “Circle of Resilience,” people who understood each other’s experiences were there alongside those who simply wanted to spend time together. There was time to talk about fishing, laugh with friends, compete, meet new people, or simply sit by the water.
The day ended with well-deserved awards and recognition for the participants, followed by a shared meal and traditional fish soup.
The event was made possible through the joint efforts of the NGO Fishermen Club of Ukraine, the Kyiv Regional State Administration, the Centre for Adaptive and Mass Sport of Kyiv Region, the Department of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Borodyanka Settlement Council, and the Nikolska Settlement Council.
We would also like to thank IBIS. Fishing and Tourism for supporting the event and GStream for providing fishing equipment and bait.
For the NGO Fishermen Club of Ukraine, initiatives like this are part of our work to promote fishing as an accessible form of physical activity, social interaction, and psychosocial recovery. It is especially important when families can be part of the experience too.
Sometimes recovery begins with very simple things: coming to the lake together, sitting side by side, talking, laughing, trying something new, or simply spending a few hours somewhere there is no need to rush.
These are the moments that gradually become a strong circle of support.