As part of the national project “Side by Side: United Communities,” a three-day visit by children from the Selidiv community to the Berezivska urban territorial community in the Odesa region has come to an end.
The program was designed to support the psychological recovery, physical development, and cultural integration of young people affected by Russia’s armed aggression.
During their stay, the children lived at the “Chaika” sports and health resort in the village of Zlatoustove, where they were provided with full meals and outdoor recreational activities. This helped the children take their minds off their worries and improve their emotional well-being in a safe environment.
During their stay, the youth from Selidovo participated in the “Movement to Victory” sports intensive. The guests visited the Martial Arts Club and the “KEVLAR” boxing club at the Agricultural Lyceum, and also took part in a match against students from the Berezivka Children’s and Youth Sports School. In addition, demonstration sessions in acrobatics and Kyokushin karate were held for the teenagers.
Specialists from the Berezivka City Council’s Center for Psychosocial Support conducted training sessions on emotional self-regulation, during which the teenagers learned to manage anxiety and interact effectively with their peers.
The cultural and educational portion of the visit included tours along the “Trails of Berezivshchyna,” a visit to the local history museum, and creative workshops. The children made their own motanka dolls, heart-shaped amulets, and macramé bracelets with the help of staff from the Selidovo City Council’s Department of Culture.
A particularly symbolic moment was the event near the “Stork of Unity” installation, where children from Donetsk Oblast left handprints as a sign of gratitude to the community that hosted them.
At the end of the visit, the young people watched a movie, discussed the results of the trip, and received commemorative souvenirs from the Berezivka community. This format of cooperation continues to strengthen ties between communities in Ukraine.
Based on materials from the Selidovo City Military Administration