Help Ukraine's refugees to make a new start

Our dear friends, just to share with you some events we managed to do before coronavirus outbreak.

On March 1, 2020, we celebrated Maslenitsa on Dolobetsky Island in the Hydropark together with many of our beneficiaries: families with many children, family type orphanages and IDPs. The participants of the holiday had a rich entertainment program: games with children, a rope park, sports and ethnographic sites, creative workshops, a campfire, delicious pancakes, and tea. We had set up a small museum of Ukrainian traditional scarves with a photo zone, where everyone could take a photo to commemorate the first day of spring. This family holiday was a real success!   

On March 4, 2020, Women’s Federation for World Peace, in cooperation with the Kyiv City administration, organized a charity event for mothers with many children, including IDP mothers. This cultural and arts campaign was dated to the International Women's Day and was titled "I am a woman. I am just a WOMAN". Around 300 mothers with 3 to 16 children gathered in the column hall of the Kyiv City administration. Greetings, gifts, dancing, cakes and lots of interesting communication were expecting the holiday participants. Everyone who wished also could participate in a master class on tying a women’s scarf, which was held by the collector of Ukrainian traditional scarfs and towels Mrs. Lyudmila.

We wish health to all of you, our dear friends! Thank you for all your help to the internally displaced families!  

Links:

• Maslenitsa project
• "I am a woman. I am just a WOMAN" action

Dear friends, we are glad to share some news from our project for January and February 2020. 

The beginning of the year was full of New Year and Christmas mood. And especially as we celebrate Orthodox Christmas in Ukraine on January 7, we prepared special programs for our beneficiaries. 

Eight IDP families became participants of the Christmas workshop. Parents had an integration meeting with the specialists, while children were learning to make delicious gingerbread cookies with their own hands. Then together they were making masterpieces out of honey gingerbread cookies and colorful glaze.

The day after, together with the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve, we prepared spiritual and cultural program for families from vulnerable categories, like IDPs and large families. The event was called "Angel’s Christmas Tree" and was attended by 70 children, together with their parents. After a guided tour around the reserve, parents could take part in a prayer service at the Cathedral. Everyone could also go up to the Great Lavra Bell Tower and participate in a festive concert with Christmas carols, competitions and gifts. After a delicious lunch, everyone was invited to visit the Lavra Caves - national historic sites.

Together with our long-term partner, “Mothers of peace” union, we organized few integration actions at schools where IDP children study. With patriotism and peace as main topics, we talked about love to the nation and to the world that can help to overcome any difficulties and bring us all to peace. Colorful concerts, children's drawings exhibitions, meetings with interesting people beautifully complemented the programs.   

Keeping individual integration work with our beneficiaries, our specialists and volunteers were visiting IDP families, trying to answer their needs. One of such families, who is under our supervision from the very beginning, is Sergey and Lyubov with their wonderful four sons. Sergey and Lyubov, who changed already three rented apartments and three schools for their kids, have been facing many challenges. Sometimes, as Lyubov shared, they think they can’t go on. But their love and enthusiasm give them power to overcome everything. We keep visiting their humble home, communicating and giving financial help.    

We wish you, our dear friends, good coming spring! Thank you for all your support and genuine concern for the internally displaced families!  

Links:

• "Angel's Christmas Tree"
• Christmas gingerbread workshop