The summer camp ended a few days ago, but the corridors, rooms and garden of Christine and Michael’s big house still echo with the joyful presence of the little Ukrainians. The Austrian vacation of these kids was the fruit of the generosity of those who joined the fundraiser launched by AMU and AFN for the Emergency Coordination of the Focolare Movement .
They are children who live in a condition of great vulnerability since the war has turned their lives upside down, but here they have found time for peace and rest, especially psychological. “We have witnessed a joy and a discipline – says Christine – obtained by their teachers with love and example. After meals, the children waited for permission to leave the table, then they put their chairs in order. Even when they crossed a street, they spontaneously gathered in groups of five with their teachers and followed their instructions. Their laughter was like music to our ears.”
The school camp was challenging for everyone , but there was a specific choice behind it. Christine explains that “the intention was to offer the kids all the activities they needed so they could forget about the war for these two weeks , sleep well, relax and above all regain a bit of a happy childhood.
They have always been attentive, curious, open to new things. In the end we told them that they are the true ambassadors of peace for their beloved Ukraine”.
On the last day they showed their gratitude to Christine and Michael cooking wareneki , a traditional Ukrainian dish consisting of small dumplings filled with cabbage and mashed potatoes. For the occasion, many wore traditional Ukrainian blouses and the girls had their hair braided in the traditional way . Those who didn’t cook made rag dolls, also typical of Ukrainian culture: “We felt that they wanted to give back all the love they had received.”
For Christine and Michael it was also an experience that marked them : “We continue to receive messages from the teachers who were our guests, they tell us that the children still tell their parents about the many beautiful things they experienced on this extraordinary adventure”.
What remains of all this? Christine answers with conviction: “Love”.
