In the previous, 300th issue of our magazine, I turned
to you, dear readers, friends, and like-minded supporters, with a request to
share your thoughts and feelings on the occasion of this milestone.
In response, we were truly overwhelmed by a wave of
warm, heartfelt congratulations, kind words, and memories from those who love,
read, and support Ladies’ World. There were so many responses that,
out of respect for every author, we decided to publish them all in the pages of
this issue.
On behalf of myself and our entire team, I sincerely
thank everyone who responded. Thank you for your honesty, for your love of our
creative and volunteer work, for your attention, and for your loyalty to the
magazine. Your words warmed our hearts and once again reminded us that
everything we have been doing for so many years truly matters to people.
But an anniversary is not only a reason to look back and
reflect. It is also a moment when you see the people beside you with special
clarity — their devotion, generosity of spirit, and sincerity. This is exactly
what I felt so deeply after the release of our anniversary issue.
One might think: what could be more natural than
gathering together to celebrate such a date? But here came the first surprise.
Our New York group absolutely refused to celebrate without me, even though I
live in California. My attempts to convince them otherwise were almost useless.
And in that insistence on being together, there was something very precious to
me: one more confirmation that over the years of working side by side, we have
been connected not only by a shared mission, but also by true friendship,
mutual support, a sense of unity, and a kind of inner kinship.
Then came another surprise — one that touched me
especially deeply. My husband, Boris Kandkhorov, who all these years has been
not only part of our creative team, but also a constant helper and sponsor of
the Ester-Ha-Malka women’s organization and the magazine, said to me simple yet
very important words: “If the magazine is your child, then all of its activists
are your children. And on a day like this, family should be together.”
He bought me a plane ticket, and I flew to New York for just one day — to
see my beloved team, to thank each person in person, and to share this
celebration with them. I am grateful to Boris for this noble, beautiful, and
truly family-hearted gesture.
On June 23, we all gathered at the Art of Grill
restaurant. We reminisced about how our women’s movement first began
twenty-seven years ago, how the magazine came to life, how challenging the
journey to our 300th issue had been, and how many remarkable people helped
shape its story along the way.
But as the evening unfolded, I realized that the
greatest gift of this anniversary was not only the memories of the past—it was
the confidence we felt about the future.
One of the greatest joys for me was seeing three
generations of our volunteers gathered around the same table.
The first generation, led by our longtime literary editor, Rena Elizarova, includes the women who stood at the very beginning of both our organization and Ladies’ World back in 1999–2000. That evening we were joined by Nina Normatova, Roza Babekova, Nina Kaylyakova, Lyuba Pilosova, Tamara Kataeva, and Mira Kakzanova.
The second generation consists of women who joined us
later and, for many years, shared the responsibility of building everything we
have accomplished together. Among them were Svetlana Kaykova, Mara Bababekova,
Shushana Baraeva, and Rachel Davydova.
And finally, there is our youngest generation—women who
became part of our organization only recently but have already become an
integral part of our extended family. They include our manager Larisa
Gavrielova, Yelena Kalendareva, Yelena Levi, and Bella Simhaeva.
Also joining us that evening were our longtime sponsor,
Dr. Stella Ilyayeva, and our dear friend and supporter, Anelina Asherova.
Unfortunately, several of our newest regular
columnists—Zoia Aminova, Professor Olga Binyaminova, Victoria Baraeva, and
Sarina Kushmakova—were unable to attend because of prior commitments.
Nevertheless, each of them has already become an important part of our team,
and each has made a valuable contribution to the magazine.
One of the most touching moments of the evening was
listening to the memories of Rena Elizarova—the true elder of Ladies’ World,
as poet and professor Eduard Aminov once so fittingly described her. With
remarkable clarity, heartfelt warmth, and genuine affection, she spoke about
the magazine’s earliest days: the sleepless nights, the dreams, the worries,
the challenges, and the people who believed in this project at a time when no
one could have imagined that one day we would celebrate the publication of our
300th issue.
Her memories filled all of us with profound gratitude
for the women who believed in the vision of Ladies’ World from the
very beginning and helped turn that vision into reality.
Yet there was something else that brought me just as
much joy.
Over the past two years, our team has become noticeably
younger. I must admit—this is exactly what I had hoped for. Times change. New
technologies emerge. The interests and priorities of younger generations
evolve. But one thing remains unchanged: our desire to serve people, to unite
them through meaningful initiatives, and to tell the stories of those whose
work, talent, generosity, and dedication make our community stronger.
That was the purpose behind the creation of Ladies’
World twenty-six years ago. And that remains its purpose today.
More and more talented, инициативных women are joining
us—not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to contribute.
They come with fresh ideas, a willingness to work, and the enthusiasm to take
on new projects. Today, they are writing not only in Russian but also in
English, helping Ladies’ World connect with the younger generation of
readers who have grown up in America.
It was especially meaningful to welcome Bella Simhaeva,
a manager at Santander Bank, to our anniversary celebration. That very day, she
officially became part of our Ladies’ World family. I was deeply
touched when she said that she hoped to be helpful and make her own
contribution to our shared mission. Years ago, many of our longtime volunteers
began their journey with those very same words.
As we reflected on the past that evening, we also spent
a great deal of time talking about the future.
Yelena Kalendareva shared exciting plans for our
upcoming Summer Fun & Games event, a continuation of our
intercommunity youth initiative. As I listened to her, I couldn't help but
think how wonderful it is that today young people are coming forward with their
own ideas, eager to organize, inspire, and bring others together. This is how
both our organization and our magazine continue to grow.
At that moment, one thought became especially clear to
me: our generations are not replacing one another—they are walking side by
side.
The older generation shares its wisdom, experience, and
devotion to our traditions. The younger generation brings fresh perspectives,
modern knowledge, energy, and a desire to build something meaningful. It is in
this partnership between generations that I see our future.
That is why, beginning with our next issue, we will
launch a new column, Bridging the Gap, an idea proposed by
Yelena Kalendareva. It will celebrate the conversations, understanding, and
cooperation that unite generations rather than divide them.
Twenty-six years ago, our dream was simply to publish
the very first issue of Ladies' World. Later, we dreamed that it would
continue to appear regularly. Then we hoped it would find devoted readers who
would look forward to each new issue.
Today, our dream is different. We want Ladies' World
to continue for many years to come—to remain a place where generations meet,
where new ideas are born, where new voices are discovered, where our traditions
are preserved, and where our community continues to grow and evolve.
Three hundred issues are more than just an anniversary
milestone. They are proof that, all those years ago, we chose the right path.
And as long as those who have been with us from the very
beginning continue walking beside those who are only now joining our journey, I
feel confident about the future of our magazine—our cherished creation.
Thank you to everyone who has been with us throughout
these years. Thank you to those who have joined us only recently. Thank you to
our sponsors and advertisers. Thank you to our readers. And thank you to my extraordinary
team. Because together, we continue writing the story of our shared Ladies'
World.
Dr. Zoya Maksumova, Editor-in-Chief
