Childhood… the most carefree period of human life. These are dreams, joy, laughter, the warmth of parental embraces, games, sincere communication, the first skills and the first achievements. This is a special period of purity of the human soul and the spontaneity of a still small person, when the most important thing is a correctly laid foundation, correctly formed values. The current world, at times, dictates its conditions, which sometimes deprive children of the opportunity to fully develop and realize themselves.
That is why, since 1998, Children’s Day has been celebrated in Ukraine on June 1. This is an annual national holiday that aims to draw the public’s attention to the problems faced by children.
Today, when a full-scale war is underway in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, children need special protection, special care. Who would have thought 10 years ago that there would be a generation of war children in our country… Unfortunately, this is what our present is like. Over the past year and a half, there have been a large number of children in Ukraine who were forced to leave their own cozy homes in order to save their lives. It is scary to imagine what these little people had to go through in the territories occupied by Russia.
And now, when they are far from that horror, we take care of them here. We didn’t have to wait for an opportunity, because summer is the season that children especially love, which they look forward to all year. Especially since it begins with Children’s Day, which means it’s time to rejoice and have fun!
That is why the public organization “We Can!”, within the framework of the “Mission of Good” project, together with the “Salvation” church in the city of Vyshneve, organized a holiday for children who left the occupied territories of Ukraine. Games, competitions, entertainment, good mood – all this was for the children!
Vitaliy Stebenev (President of the NGO “We Can!”, Director of the TBN UA TV channel): “Many children and their families were forced to leave their homes and apartments because of the war. And we want children to forget about the war at least for a while. Today we have a unique opportunity to show care and attention to such children and their families, showing that they are not forgotten.”
Vadym Heiko (head of the Smile Land club, chaplain): “In honor of Children’s Day, there will be many activities, gifts, there will be music – it will be a holiday for children. They will definitely hear the Word of God… Now children especially need love! Children should feel that they are important…”.
Olga Galkina (children’s pastor of the “Salvation” church in Vyshneve): “Children are our future! What we instill in them today will grow into them. We want to encourage them to do good deeds, to Christian values, so that they understand that there is reliable protection, and that it is the Lord! Our mission is to protect the spiritual, psychological, and emotional sphere of children.”
Oleg Polyovy (chaplain): “Children feel that they are cared for, it gives them joy, it gives them a resource. And there – in war – our soldiers feel that it is for this joy, for safety that they give their lives. Therefore, holidays for children are very necessary, and the more of them there are, the better!”
In addition to active games, music, and communication with peers and church ministers, the children prayed to God for His protection, which is extremely important in our time. And at the end of the holiday, each child received a gift.
We are glad that in this difficult time we were able to please and comfort our children – a generation that was born to be free, called to change Ukraine, do good deeds, and serve the Lord! We believe that victory is near, and soon Ukrainian children will live under a peaceful sky!
Video about the event on the TBN UA YouTube channel: