Preserved from the time of Taras Shevchenko's childhood: a bicentennial windmill was renovated in Cherkasy region

A repaired bicentennial windmill in the Taras Shevchenko Birthplace National Reserve in the village of Shevchenkove, Cherkasy region. The Budyshchansky windmill is a cultural heritage site in Cherkasy: the only one that has survived out of 28 windmills that operated in Shevchenkove during Taras Shevchenko's childhood and was made using a unique Dutch technology, where only the tower moves, UNN reports.

"This windmill is located at the highest point between the villages where Kobzar spent his childhood - Moryntsi, Kerelivka, Budyshche. Not far away is the tract he mentions in his poem "The Haidamaks," where he grazed lambs outside the village. These are the paths and places of Kobzar's childhood. Our partners and I have a dream not only to preserve but also to restore the cultural monument to show future generations how flour is born from grain. Mills used to be centers of communication," said Liudmyla Shevchenko, director of the Taras Shevchenko's Homeland National Reserve.

The MHP-Hromadske Charitable Foundation financed the first stage of repair work - the restoration of the wings of this unique windmill, which have been replaced more than 10 times over the past 20 years due to damage from severe storms. This time, the wings for the windmill were made of strong, high-quality oak.

"It's important for us to preserve cultural heritage monuments because through them people learn about their past and shape the future. The museum hosts a lot of excursions, and visitors get to know the history, culture and peculiarities of their ancestors' life," says Tatiana Volochai, director of MHP-Community.

Children of military personnel from Cherkasy region were invited to an excursion to the windmill and the National  Reserve "Taras Shevchenko's Homeland". 

"MHP is a strategic partner of the MHP-Hromada Foundation. And one of the priority vectors of our activity is to support culture. Now is the historical moment when we have to tell our children about Ukrainian traditions and values. And the best way to do this is through cultural heritage sites. For example, the consciousness of Taras Shevchenko, his freedom-loving spirit and steadfastness were formed on these lands," said Pavlo Moroz, Director of Corporate and Social Responsibility at MHP." 

More than 50 children from the families of Ukraine's defenders were able to see the windmill and other objects of the reserve that day. The initiative was implemented with the support of  NGO "No One's Business as Usual". 

"We have received requests for emotional relief and recreation. Especially for children. That is why we have allocated resources to organize meaningful excursions, workshops, and interesting events for them. Our children will rebuild and develop the country after the war. In this difficult time, we need to create the basis for them to develop their potential and preserve their emotional and mental health. Such events will become a tradition," said Ivan Poluden, head of the NGO "No One's Problem Is Ours." 

Arsen from the Novoselytsia branch of Katerynopil Lyceum No. 1 came to the windmill with his little sister. The children's father recently returned from the war, and this, they said, was the greatest joy in their family. 

"This is the first time I have ever seen such a windmill. Looking at it in a picture and in person is different. I really liked its structure. It is so tall and strong," says Arsen. 

The project management was carried out by the team of the NGO "Ecological Movement of Cherkasy Region": historical and local lore research, study of technologies, involvement of necessary specialists and equipment, installation works.

"This windmill has a unique feature: it is made using Dutch technology, where only one tower moves. The miller himself could turn the tower according to the wind direction. To recreate the action of the rotary mechanism, our experts visited the Petro Kalnyshevsky Museum in Sumy region. They studied the technology. And local craftsmen performed all the repair work on the reconstruction of the wings,"  said Vadym Lioshenko, head of the NGO "Ecological Movement of Cherkasy Region."

The museum staff and partners are planning to restore the walls of the windmill according to historical references.