Jelena Ačanski holds a PhD in biological sciences and, as she says, a preschool diploma in vector illustration design. Her endlessly charming illustrations have quietly won the hearts of cat lovers, but beyond the witty messages on t-shirts for cat enthusiasts, Jelena is also known for her solidarity-driven campaigns. This time, we’re talking to her for the “Why We Donate” section about her contributions to the “Living Upright” Center and the accessibility of personal assistant services for people with disabilities, as well as her views on solidarity, community, and creating a more just world.
1. Your work is well-known across the Internet, at least among cat lovers, through Uncut Creations. In addition to celebrating cats through your art, you also celebrate life itself, actively and devotedly, through your support to the “Living Upright” Center’s campaign to raise urgently needed funds. What inspired you to become an ally in their fight in this way? How has the collaboration evolved, and how is it still going?
Uncut Creations was created with a desire to actively contribute to society. When the Brendly platform got launched in 2020, it finally made print-on-demand business models possible in Serbia. Shortly put, it’s a platform that allows me to express my creativity, while Brendly takes care of everything from production and shipping to the entire sales logistics. This gives me the freedom to focus on the creative side, because with my primary job and lifestyle, I wouldn’t physically be able to handle the entire sales process.
The opening of the Uncut shop coincided with the spring 2020 lockdown, when I saw a post from the Belgrade Public Aquarium and Tropical House, asking for financial support for animal food, as they were unable to sell tickets and therefore had no income to feed the animals. I added a few products to the Uncut shop and shared on social media that all profits from shirt sales would be donated to them. Even though Uncut was just starting out and the follower base was small, the response was great, and the first donation was successfully raised. Then, the Felix Cat Shelter from Subotica launched an appeal for the treatment of a cat named Miša, who had FIP — the response was even larger, and a significant amount was collected. After that, the initiatives kept rolling. Uncut Creations has participated in numerous charity auctions, mostly on Facebook, but also at social events in Serbia and abroad. I haven’t kept track of the total amount of money raised through Uncut, because I believe that every single contribution matters and that every action where people give a part of themselves is priceless.When I saw a post on Instagram from the “Living Upright” Center, I began thinking about how I could contribute to their fight—not just with a one-time donation, but through an initiative with a broader impact — both financially and in raising awareness about the Center, its mission, and its importance in the society. The first part of the initiative focused on profits from the sale of Uncut products, and then it expanded into a support campaign. I invited 3,850 people to donate 200 dinars and share posts in an effort to raise 770,000 dinars. We’re close to reaching that goal, but that doesn’t mean the collaboration between Uncut and the Center will stop. On the contrary, we’re pushing ahead until we reach the end goal – unblocking their bank accounts, and who knows, there may be many more creative and meaningful initiatives and mutual support in the future. I’m proud that this joint effort has led to important posts, videos, and Viber stickers spreading awareness about personal assistance, ableism, support, and community. We still have a few more things to show you, so make sure to follow the Center’s profiles on social media.
What inspired me to become an ally in their struggle? Through Mima’s [Milica Mima Ružičić Novković, from the “Living Upright” Center] posts and emails, I felt the strength and determination of one woman — some might say, strength in fighting windmills. At the same time, I noticed the lack of institutional support, which got the Center into trouble in the first place. I realized that I had gathered a community of wonderful people around Uncut, that I had a certain knowledge in copywriting and digital marketing, and it would be a pitty not to use these resources. The collaboration with the Center and communication with Mima have been invaluable. We think through every idea together, fine-tuning even the smallest details. I believe that through this process, we are both learning priceless things and growing as individuals.
2. As we learn from the “Living Upright” Center (CŽU) and others who follow, promote, and deepen the achievements of the disability rights movement, personal assistance is one of the most crucial prerequisites for an independent and dignified life for people with disabilities. How do you see this service, and how would you explain to someone who hears about it for the first time why it’s important to support the accessibility of this service, and why it matters even for those with no disability?
Personal assistance enables everyone to live independently and with dignity. The fact that in the 21st century we are still fighting for the accessibility of personal assistance to everyone who needs it is a failure of our society. Personal assistance is not just physical help; it’s the key to freedom—the ability for someone to go to the flower market on Friday, take a walk by the river, attend a concert, work, study, pursue hobbies, or meditate at Štrand (beach in Novi Sad, author`s note).
The importance of this service goes beyond the users of personal assistance because by supporting its accessibility, we are building a more inclusive society. Such society becomes a community where everyone has equal opportunities to learn, work, train, or simply take a walk in the park and enjoy the blossoming trees and the pollinators visiting them. As a society, we are increasingly inclined to value everything in monetary terms. For example, to highlight the importance of pollinators, the economic value of their service has been calculated globally, ranging between $195 billion and $387 billion annually.
That’s why I particularly emphasize the importance of leisure and hobbies when talking about personal assistance, because sometimes it is underlined that people with disabilities, thanks to personal assistance, can contribute to society. However, this service must never be monetized, because that is not —and should never be— the goal. The goal is ensuring independence and the right to choice in every aspect of life.
In collaboration with the “Living Upright” Center, and with the wonderful people I’ve met through the Uncut community on social media, we created a video explaining what personal assistance is. This video is especially dear to me, because it features people who recognized the value of solidarity and stepped in front of the camera without hesitation to spread this important message. You can watch the video here: Instagram video.
3. We often talk about the concepts of “solidarity” and “community”—so often, in fact, that these terms have become so layered that everyone has their own interpretation of what they mean. What do solidarity and community mean to you?
Solidarity is sharing both burdens and successes, offering mutual support, and that long hug which gives you strength.. Solidarity is when the community around Uncut Creations shares posts about the “Living Upright” Center, when we call each other to action and offer support. Solidarity is all the people and entrepreneurs who supported the Center in its donation campaign and beyond. Solidarity is action, not standing on the sidelines when someone needs support. Solidarity is the people gathered in several Facebook groups who give their time and resources to selflessly help those supported by humanitarian foundations. Solidarity is all the entrepreneurs who donate their products for charity livestreams. Solidarity is the people who follow those livestreams and make purchases to support the cause. Solidarity has many names: Božica from the “Humanitarian Bookstore” group, Jesena, Sneža, Branka, Sandra, Daniela, and other wonderful ladies from the Facebook group “Tim Tetke” (Auntie Team). Solidarity is when Vuki’s mom, Jelena from Zrenjanin, along with her Instagram followers, provides bedding for the pediatric ward at the General Hospital “Đorđe Jovanović.” Solidarity is when Nina Katana, in memory of her daughter Nađa, organizes an action for mothers whose children are patients at the Novi Sad Children’s Hospital, and the response is so overwhelming that she has nowhere to store all the donations. Solidarity is the people gathered in the FB group for treating cats with FIP.And what about community? If you want to feel the power and warmth of a community, participate in the livestreams hosted by Ivana and Patricia, Tamara, and all the other mothers who, with the support of wonderful people, raise money for the treatment of their children.
As for the Uncut community, through cheerful and witty messages, I wanted to attract people who share a similar view of the world—those who believe in optimism, joy, and mutual respect. Milisav helps me immensely with this, as he is an incredible being—a very attentive cat who sees the world in a positive light and has precious insights. He knows that life is a gift and makes the most of every moment, in order to fully enjoy it. One thing I remember from chemistry class in high school is the saying “Like rejoices in like,” and so, naturally, around Uncut Creations, a beautiful group of people has gathered—those who love life, people, animals, and the world. These are people with a realistic yet optimistic outlook, who proudly share pictures of their cats to brighten the world. People who understand that a scratched-up couch is nothing compared to the love a cat gives. These are the people, aware of the value of simple joy and the ease of living, always ready to jump into any action I initiate, support it, and actively encourage others to participate. I hope they feel my gratitude for every share, every comment, and every like on a post.
4. What are your dreams of a more just world?
I’ve been told several times that I’m naïve because I believe in change—perhaps I am, but I take it as a compliment. For me, a more just world means that everyone acts according to their abilities, that they can realize their potential and desires. It means focusing on what we can do, not what we can’t. It’s about doing what you want, as long as it doesn’t harm others. It’s about not doing something to someone else that you wouldn’t want done to yourself. It’s about everyone getting the help or equipment they need, not what some rulebook says they’re entitled to. It’s about no doctor raising their voice at a patient. It’s about no sick person being accused of pretending, imagining things, or seeking attention. It’s about people learning throughout their lives. It’s about no baby being fundraised for by a a foundation because of medical negligence at birth. It’s about no parent losing a child due to poor organization and slow justice. It’s about no one having to crowdsource money for treatment through a foundation. It’s about no parent having to write messages and beg for donations for a livestream to fund medical care. It’s about everyone having a home. It’s about no one going hungry. It’s about ending ableism. It’s about every adult person being free to love another adult person. It’s about no one fearing for their life because of love. It’s about everyone being able to hold hands freely. It’s about students being able to use elevators at all universities. It’s about companies not measuring women’s toilet paper consumption. It’s about no one losing their job due to pregnancy or illness. It’s about everything being accessible. It’s about no wheelchair user waiting for years for an official approval to make a building accesible while seeing permits for café terraces being issued almost within a day. It’s about not building elevated platforms for summer patios, but ensuring they are accessible to everyone. It’s about all people understanding that we’re 99.9% alike in our DNA, and stopping celebrating that 0.1% of difference. It’s about no more war. It’s about everyone having the right to vote. It’s about no domesticated animal, whom humans have bonded with over centuries, being abandoned. It’s about being wise enough to protect our planet. And it’s about no crime ever being called an accident.
5. To wrap things up, we’re actually going to return to the beginning—the idea of interviewing you came not only because of your solidarity action with the “Living Upright” Center (CŽU), but also because of a funny dream I had where I’m arguing with someone who reads “Uncut” as it would be read in English, even though it should be pronounced as it’s written in serbian. So, who is Uncut, and how does it contribute to a more just and joyful world?
Uncut is a child from Sivac that found itself in Novi Sad. A child raised in a family where kids were treated as individuals, not as princesses or heirs; a child encouraged to learn, grow, think for itself, take responsibility for its actions, vote but not belong to any political party. A child taught to act, not just talk. A child who grew up by the Great Bačka Canal, because when you learn as a kid not to fear the pondweed that tickles your legs from the depths while you swim, you learn to face life without fear. A child who doesn’t nervously ring the bell on their bike but instead sings out “A little space, please!” A child who has felt all the love in the world but also the hardships brought by the 1990s. A child whose goal is to not become a frustrated adult. This child is woven into the Uncut brand, which designs filled with humor, self-irony, everyday situations, and a deep love for animals,I use in an effort to spread smiles and bring joy into everyday life. That child looks at me, and for it’s sake, I want to paint the world in brighter colors.
IMPORTANT: The “Living Upright” Center still needs your support! Visit their website and get involved in the campaign. Be the change, with no hesitation!
Interview by: Galina Maksimović
