From March 20 to 30, students from the Siverska community took an educational trip to Austria as part of the national project “Side by Side: United Communities.” This visit was made possible thanks to a partnership between the Siverska City and Dubrynytsia Rural territorial communities.
The trip began with a visit to the castle in Kamianitsa in Zakarpattia, after which the children were warmly welcomed by the owner of a hotel in Austria, Mr. Franz Fabian. The program for the first few days was extremely packed: meeting the residents of an organic farm, attending Holy Mass in Boxdorf, and a trip to a soccer match in Reizenstorf with Mayor Bernd Strobol in attendance. The young Ukrainians also explored the majestic castle in Hüsing, built on the site of an ancient volcano, and enjoyed horseback riding.
Over the following days, the students deepened their knowledge of Burgenland’s culture. They visited the wine district in Halingenbrunn, where they spoke with the mayors of the towns and left entries in the guest book in three languages. In addition to educational excursions, the children had time to relax at the Avita Therme thermal complex and take walks through the region’s picturesque towns.
The final stage of the trip was the most emotional. The children visited the famous Joseph Zotter chocolate factory in Styria, where they saw the candy-making process, and the town of Oberwart.
A highlight of the trip was the dinner that the students prepared together with their Austrian friends. Before leaving, the children received numerous gifts from the community of Hüssing and thanked the organizers for their warm welcome. For the youth of Donetsk Oblast, this trip was not only an opportunity to see the world, but also a symbol of sincere international support and community unity.
Based on materials from the Siversk City Military Administration