The CNAUI President
Lara Levchun (Fedorchuk) — President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy
| From: | Dubno, Rivne region, Ukraine |
| Lives in: | Pagliano, Italy (in Italy since 2000) |
| Languages: | Ukrainian (native), Italian |
Current positions
- President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy — since 25.08.2024
- President of the Coordination Centre of Ukrainian Associations in Italy — since 24.08.2023
- National secretary of the Labor union — immigration section — since 2020
- Conciliator at the Caserta and Naples labour inspectorates (Labor) — since 2022
The path
2000
Moving to Italy. Before that, ten years as a primary school teacher in her native Dubno, Rivne region.
26 February 2022
The first rally in Naples. Co-organiser of the first demonstration in support of Ukraine on Piazza Dante; since then, daily work with refugees: legal advice, webinars, mediation.
24 August 2023
Cooperation memorandum. Organised the signing of the Memorandum by 26 associations together with Ukraine’s Consul General; elected President of the Coordination Centre.
October 2023
A standing school of immigration law. A course for association representatives; dedicated WhatsApp groups handling 15,000+ enquiries a day and a Facebook community of 21,000+ people.
25 August 2024
Founding the Congress. Organised the constituent assembly of the Congresso Nazionale delle associazioni ucraine in Italia; elected President.
Initiatives as President
Education and recognition of qualifications
Meetings with CIMEA and a round table at the Italian Ministry of Health on recognising qualifications; Petition no. 953 to the Senate — implementing the PACE resolution in support of displaced people; Petition no. 1009 — Ukrainian in Italian schools; before the Senate’s 7th Committee; Forum of Ukrainian teachers in Italy (September 2024)
Advocacy
Petition to recognise Ukrainian as a national minority language in Italy (January 2025); Petition to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism; The “Bridge for Ukraine’s recovery” conference in the Italian Chamber of Deputies (March 2025)
Interregional cooperation
Memoranda with the Rivne, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regional administrations, the Chernivtsi regional council and the Club of Mayors of Ukraine; More than 30 twinning agreements between Italian and Ukrainian towns; Letter of intent between Lanivtsi and Mondragone (2025)
Professional communities
Forums of Ukrainian doctors (2024) and lawyers (2025) in Italy; The “Role of the diaspora in rebuilding Ukraine” panel at the Friends of Ukraine Forum 2025; Round table with Ukraine’s Minister of Culture during the G7 Culture summit (Naples, 2024)
Cultural and public events
Co-coordinator of the “Ukraine is calling” tour through central and southern Italy; Ukraine’s Independence Day demonstrations in Naples (2023, 2024); The “Koliada” festivals and flash mobs (2022–2023)
Professional experience
2024
Mediator at the immigration office of the Naples police headquarters
2015–2023
Legal expert on immigration: the Labor, Eurocolf and A.I.C. unions; legal advice for SAI, CAF assistance centres; linguistic and cultural mediation for schools and the Curia
2007–2021
Law office of F. Riccardo and administrative work (Pomigliano d’Arco)
1990–2000
Primary school teacher, School no. 7, Dubno
Education
Ukraine
- Rivne State Pedagogical Institute (1994)
- Dubno Teacher Training College — first-class diploma
Italy
- “Specialised migration officer” course — Federico II University, Naples
- Courses in import-export management and in inheritance law
- Sworn court translator (Frosinone Chamber of Commerce)
