Who would have thought that the war, which aim was to divide the East and the West, on the contrary – would unite all Ukrainian nation. We have become closer to each other and that is the most important thing. Recently Ukrainian youth had had an excellent opportunity to get closer and to make friends from all over Ukraine. At the end of March the annual Youth Alpha conference took place, where also the ambitious group from Cherkassy and its leader Svetlana Obmanyuk went.
The charitable foundation “Hope from heart to heart” and a Norwegian charity fund “Help Ukraine” are organizing such an event not for the first time, but every visit there is something new. This year the conference took place in Kyiv, hotel “Pushia Congress.” Organizers said, that ‘the purpose of their action was not only to gather young people in one place but to combine them through training, seminars and interesting quests as well, to bring them to the understanding, that they have power, when they are together’.
– The future of our country is in the young hands, so we should raise public awareness, which is based on Christian and general human’s principles – that is what the leaders are sure in.
This year’s seminar topics were related to the ‘identity’ and to the ‘place in society’. Speakers touched even the most unpleasant, but real problems. We want to call ourselves Europeans and we think that after we reach this – we become gentlemen. We expect that Europeans will come to us and remove garbage from our roadsides, screw out light bulbs in hallways and put flowers everywhere. But what are WE doing for this? In most cases it occurs that: the chief went earlier and everyone is also ‘gone with the wind’, although there are still a few hours. We work in the same way, slowly, as if we are taking care of ourselves and are saving strength for something much more important. Destroying stereotypes and showing that we can live differently, that we can live better – that was the purpose of everyone, who had spoken to the youth on the conference.
In addition to general seminars we were also communicating in small groups, which included representatives from different regions. Young people acquainted and discussed many topics that were close to their hearts and sometimes even extremely painful. This practice helped the participants to open up even more, to share the things they were so worried about and maybe even to ‘save’ someone with the story by sharing how it is possible to survive. There were many sincere tears, lots of love and support, without which several commitments of suicide happen among the youth nowadays. However, even those who had once thought about committing suicide, are now happy to have not done that and are thankful that they could withstand this.
Irina, while attending the conference from the city Bucha:
– In my life there was such a time when everything happened at once. At first, my best friend died, the one I could not imagine my life without; and later I found out that Dad was going to join the army. But I am incredibly grateful to my mother, who was with me all that time. I came home from school and told her about everything I was feeling day by day; about everything, which was going on in my mind. I wanted to die, but I had overcome this and I am so grateful to God. I believe that a person does not face anything, which is too hard to cope with. It is difficult, but real. The most important thing is to have support during this time.
Not only Ukrainian youth had come to the conference, but there was also a group from Norway. That is how it was a unique chance to make Norwegian friends and to upgrade the English skills.
A pleasant surprise turned out – famous Ukraine Christian music performers had joined the conference: living in Lviv, but born in Texas – Bria Blessing and also the group “The Cry from the Heart”. Their performances had charged everyone with positive and special energy.
On the second day, which was the last one, no one wanted to go home. A lot of teenagers became friends, they got used to each other and to the atmosphere in which they lived; saying ‘goodbye’ was filled with tears. It was also grand and loud: lots of pictures, the phone numbers written on hands and the sincere and friendly embrace.
Such events are gradually moving us, Ukrainian, forward. We become closer, stand up better and start to be more conscious. That is why the changes are on their way, because we are standing together!
Nadiya Nesterenko
