When you walk under the Autumn sun there, when you see shining towers of churches and maturing chestnuts, you almost cannot imagine that only few hundred kilometers from there is the war – real war in Eastern Ukraine where thousands of people suffer…
On September 26-28, YMCA Ukraine held its annual National Conference (General Assembly). This year how difficult for our Ukrainian friends it was to discuss ordinary issues of the movement when presidents of local associations from Eastern Ukraine and Crimea came and shared their dramatic stories!
Field Group Ukraine meeting followed the National Conference. This year it was also more challenging to discuss about the sustainability of the Ukrainian movement. One afternoon the whole group visited Majdan, the place of mass demonstrations from the beginning of the year, the place where more than hundred persons were killed. Staying on the front of modest memorial of YMCA leader from Rivne who was killed, tears came to our eyes… And everyone of us understood there that values of peace, justice and democracy forever have to be in the centre of YMCA mission worldwide…
The YMCA international delegation went to the Ukrainian office of UNICEF. YMCA Ukraine presented their recent work for children from Eastern Ukraine: watch this video, you will be impressed (as UNICEF was) realizing what can be done with very limited resources but unlimited passion.
Plans of common UNICEF-YMCA further aid-work for children were discussed there, and the members of the Field Group were so proud of YMCA Ukraine! Viktor, Tanya, Julia, Aleksey – Ukraine is in our hearts!
