The Faculty of Foreign Philology and Social Communication of Sumy State University, the regional organization of the National Union of Journalists and the NGO “Sumy Press Club” founded the “Greetings from Ukraine” project. The goal is to support children who, due to the beginning of the full-scale military invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, are forced to go abroad.

The coordinators of the project were associate professors of the Department of Journalism and Philology of the FPSC SSU: Alla Yarova – media expert, Alla Fedoryna – coordinator of the NGO “Sumy Press Club”, Volodymyr Sadivnychiy – the Head of the regional organization of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

As part of the project, it was decided to transfer the works of Ukrainian artists to schools in Germany and Poland, where migrant children study, in order to create information corners that would present culture, art, literature, education, and ultimately the spirit of Ukraine.

– Even when a child is safe in another country, goes to school there, is treated well, etc., it's still a different atmosphere. And when a child is asked about Ukraine, it can be difficult for her to explain what kind of country it is. So we decided to send such gifts to various schools where our children study, in order to create Ukrainian corners there, – explains Alla Fedorуna.

Among the works that will soon be sent to Polish and German schools are paintings by such professional artists as Yulia Aleschenko, Igor Vasylevskyi, Ivan Hapochenko, Oleksandr Zastup, Anna Zakharchenko, Nina Negreba, Volodymyr Kharakoz, Oleksandr Cherednychenko, Igor Shvachunov, as well as pupils of the Sumy Vocational School of the D.S. Bortnyanskyi College of Arts and Culture, objects of applied art, including embroidered cloths, national towels, painted tableware, dolls, as well as books from the regional organization of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine, which were handed over by Serhiy Pyatachenko, Petro Nesterenko, Lyudmila Romеn, Anna Korshunova, stickers for children with drawings by Svitlana Kachurovska.

– At first, it was conceived as a one-time project, – says Volodymyr Sadivnychiy, – but artists, students, writers responded on such a large scale that we have enough for several projects. We are also waiting for a reaction from all creative unions, organizations and circles.

Therefore, in the future, the coordinators plan to expand their activities and seek new contacts with educational institutions in European countries. This will not only contribute to the establishment of inter-ethnic, inter-cultural dialogue, but will also help the general public to learn about Ukraine. In addition, thanks to the project, more forcibly displaced children will be able to receive support.

– We want the children to be able to return home to a safe country as soon as possible, but while this is not possible, we believe that this charitable action is necessary, – concludes Alla Fedorуna.

Yulia Shumylo, ZhTm-11.