As part of the cooperation between sister communities, young people from the Novogrodivka community in Donetsk Oblast once again visited the city of Kalush in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The key event of the visit was a large-scale sports festival that brought together children from three regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Sumy, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
The event, which took place at the Sokil sports complex, consisted of two themed stages, each of which aimed not only at physical development but also at strengthening national unity.
The first part of the competition was held under the slogan "Together We Will Win" as part of the country's largest student project, the All-Ukrainian School League "Side by Side." Young athletes competed for the championship in five disciplines in the city stage of the competition: 3x3 basketball, mass football, table tennis, volleyball, and chess.
These competitions gave the students of Novogrodivka schools an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and will to win, which they have maintained despite being unable to train in their home gyms due to the temporary occupation of their community.
The second part of the event shifted the focus from competition to full integration. As part of the Side by Side: United Communities project, children from Donetsk, Sumy, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions moved away from the "school against school" format and joined together in mixed teams.
Friendly tournaments with mixed teams demonstrated the main idea of the meeting: Ukrainian youth are united, regardless of their region of origin. This format facilitated informal communication, getting to know peers, and creating new strong ties between communities.
"Due to Russia's armed aggression, our children are deprived of their usual sporting life at home. Therefore, the opportunity to hold these competitions on a professional field in Kalush is extremely important. Here, they are not just playing soccer or volleyball — they are regaining a sense of normal childhood and feeling the support of the whole country," said Olga Sidorova, deputy head of the Novogrodivka Military Administration.
At the end of the competition, the participants received gifts from the Novogrodivska MBA, but the main achievement was the feeling of unity and confidence that only together we can overcome any challenges.
The Novogrodivka community expresses its sincere gratitude to the Kalush territorial community for its consistent support of the children of Donetsk Oblast and for creating a safe space for their development.
Details can be found in the video at the link. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CBPKpcCRq/
Based on materials from the Novogrodivka City Military Administration