The Asgarda

I recently stumbled across an article in the Telegraph about a group of women in the Ukraine called the "Asgarda". The name derives from Asgard, the city of the gods, in Norse mythology. The Asgarda is a tribe of women and girls of varying ages, living in autonomy from men in the Carpathian Mountains. Here they study History, Science, traditional life skills, and the Cossak Martial art known as Bojovyj Hopak. With unemployment, domestic violence, sexual trafficking, and gender oppression remaining ever-present issues, the Asgarda is a sanctuary and training ground for empowered young women of the Ukraine, with Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, as there icon of strength. In 2004 French photographer, Guillaume Herbaut, met and photographed the Asgarda.