Children from a club celebrating their Ukrainian heritage came together yesterday to show solidarity on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion into the country.
Over the last three years, the Ukrainian Language Club at Freemantle and Shirley Community Centre has made sure that refugees and second-generation children do not forget their traditions.
Some 12 DBS-checked and safeguarding-trained volunteers teach reading and writing in Ukrainian to the children, many of whom have come to Southampton since the invasion began.
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“It started with one of the children showing her dad on FaceTime that she had been learning to read and write English,” said Angela Tuck, English liaison officer for the Ukrainian Language Club.
“We hadn’t thought of that. We had eight or nine children to begin with, and since then it has just grown and grown.”
The club started off occupying one room at the community centre, but now lessons can often span across three rooms.
Children made traditional fabric dolls which will be sent to the frontline in Ukraine. (Image: Newsquest) At the event on Sunday, a workshop was held to make traditional fabric dolls as good luck charms for Ukrainian soldiers and a collection was held to donate items to the frontline.
Over £700 has been raised by the club over the last three years.
Led by Mariia Kotul, the club’s “Glory” children’s choir also sang traditional Ukrainian songs and held a minute of silence for those who have died in the war.
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“It’s really important for the children to remember their traditions,” Mariia said.
“Once they start going to schools they forget everything, so we still try to make sure they keep those traditions.
“We understand not every kid will go back to Ukraine, but we teach just to remember the history, so we can make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Organisers from the Ukrainian Language Club standing with the Lord Mayor of Southampton. (Image: Newsquest) The Lord Mayor of Southampton was in attendance as he watched the show and spoke to the children involved.
Cllr Dave Shields said that welcoming communities into Southampton is “very much the fabric of this city” and what makes it “great.”
The ward member for Freemantle said: “We’re a trading port, communities coming together are what makes us prosperous. Our city is a number of communities that come together and support each other.”
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