Christmas in Ukraine has always been a symbol of family warmth and unshakeable faith. This year, Ukrainians are celebrating this great holiday on December 25 for the third time. For the children of the Druzhkivka Children's Home, it was a special day of unity, even though they celebrated it thousands of kilometers away from home.
Due to the escalation of hostilities in Donetsk Oblast and the constant threat of Russian aggression, the children in the care of social protection institutions were evacuated. Some of them found safe haven in the Kingdom of Spain, as well as in Latvia and Italy. This Christmas was the fourth one that the children have celebrated as evacuees, but that did not prevent them from keeping Ukrainian traditions alive in their hearts.
Despite the distance, Spain managed to create a real corner of Ukraine. The pupils and the staff accompanying them have become one big friendly family. The preparations for the holiday were full of creativity:
creative workshops - the pupils made Christmas decorations with their own hands and decorated their rooms with them;
symbols of light - together with their teachers, the children created festive candlesticks that became a symbol of hope;
heritage of ancestors - they learned new carols and poems in preparation for the festive evening.
The celebration took place in an exceptionally warm atmosphere. Ukrainian Christmas carols were sung, folk games were played, and everyone's communication filled the space with joy. The festively decorated tables added to the special mood: the warm flickering of candles and delicious dishes created a sense of security and home comfort, which children so desperately lack in times of war.
This holiday gave our pupils a sense of support and faith in goodness. It reminded everyone that even in forced evacuation, we are able to preserve the warmth of our traditions and the true spirit of Christmas.
We express our boundless gratitude to the staff of social protection institutions who took in our residents, and to those who are with them around the clock, giving them love and care.
This Christmas in Spain will remain in the memory of the children as a bright memory full of hope. We believe that very soon a peaceful sky will reign over Ukraine, and our wards will return to their free homeland.
Let's bring victory closer together! Everything will be Ukraine!