History

The idea to create an organization that would strengthen the interaction between the public, media, various branches of government, business, and international partners to protect socially important values and strengthen statehood emerged in 2023.

On the Unity Day, January 22, 2024, the official launch of “Holka” took place, as reported by “Detector Media,” “Hromadske,” “Zmina,” and other media and civil society organizations. “Stitching for one grand idea” – media wrote about the purpose behind our civic initiative.

Representatives from different sectors, including civic activists, media professionals, and individuals from various branches of government who assist in resisting corruption during the Russian-Ukrainian war, defending sovereignty, and developing quality policies, were involved in developing the concept.

Considering that one of the organization’s main goals is to bring together representatives from different sectors to develop quality policies, the organization was named “Holka” (“The Needle”).

The logo combines a needle, thread, and sword.

The needle leads the thread behind it and sets the direction of movement. Where the needle goes, the thread follows. The thread allows stitching together representatives of different sectors and branches of government in this struggle. The sword is also a symbol of leadership, serving to protect values and demonstrating the readiness to defend them while uniting like-minded individuals for their protection.

The needle is one of humanity’s oldest inventions, playing a crucial role in the development of civilization. Over tens of thousands of years, the shape of the needle has remained unchanged because its design is both simple and perfect. The first needles invented by humans are virtually identical to modern sewing needles. No improvement is necessary, as the form and function were ideally combined from the very beginning of the needle’s creation—form followed function.

The Roman gladius, used by gladiators, is a symbol of power, the ability to defend and assert one’s interests. Effective in close combat, it allows for quick maneuvers and has an excellent ability to penetrate the enemy’s armor. That’s why the gladius is combined with a needle in the logo, symbolizing the stitching for the protection of valuables and advocacy.

All European legal systems originated from Roman law. The universality and perfection of Roman law allowed it to spread across the entire European territory and former colonies. This law laid the foundation for Magdeburg law, one of the most widespread legal systems of local self-government used by cities in Ukraine.

The tone of voice of  the brand can vary because a needle sews, heals, pricks, and stitches. “Holka” (The “Needle”) stitches together those who share our values and principles and is ready to defend them. As for those who violate them, communication is straightforward and humorous.

The co-founders of the organization were journalists and communication specialists Iryna Fedoriv and Margarita Sytnyk.