"Unity Action": Young People from Vinnytsia and Lithuania Together Created a Collection of Albums with Children's Patriotic Drawings

Viburnum, golden wheat and peaceful sky, own borders and calls to stop the war - such drawings were prepared by students of Vinnytsia schools for a joint collection of patriotic albums with Lithuanian children. Back in early April, Vinnytsia received humanitarian aid from the Lithuanian sister city of Panevėžys. In addition to food, hygiene products and medical supplies, the packages also included gifts for young Ukrainians - the start of a creative initiative.

"This idea was proposed by primary school students of Panevėžys city community. The children filled the first pages of these albums on their own - they dedicated it to Ukrainian themes. In Vinnytsia, the initiative was joined by students of secondary schools, pupils of the Palace of Children and Youth, as well as displaced children from other regions of Ukraine living in humanitarian centers of temporary internally displaced persons located in vocational schools of Vinnytsia community," said Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Education Department of Vinnytsia City Council.

One of the participants in this creative project, a student of Vinnytsia Humanitarian Lyceum №1 Anna Shahinian admits that creativity in such a difficult time is one of the possible means to distract from the terrible realities.

“Thank you to the children from Lithuania for supporting my Ukraine, which they cover through pictures! It hurts me, a true Ukrainian, to realize that there is a war going on in my homeland. Drawing calms me down, so I'm drawing more and more now. I am proud of our country and I believe in Victory!” says the girl.

Oksana Yatsenko adds that everyone will be able to see the finished collection later.

"Creating a collection of children's patriotic drawings is a kind of action to unite the Ukrainian and Lithuanian peoples. We will transfer the collection of albums of patriotic drawings of children of Vinnytsia community and Lithuanian Panevėžys to the Museum of Vinnytsia so that future generations can see and feel the pain, sadness and pride of young hearts for our country," said Oksana Yatsenko.