Exploring the world, discovering diverse cultures and traditions, and savouring national cuisines are dreams cherished by many — dreams that often seem unattainable. Yet, initiatives like the annual Charity Fair, held this year on Saturday, 30 November 2024, on the feast day of St Andrew the Apostle (the First-Called), bring these dreams closer to reality.
The Ukrainian Diplomatic Spouses Association led the organisation of the event in partnership with the Ambassadors’ Spouses Club of Kyiv (ASCK) and the International Women’s Club of Kyiv (IWCK), with support from the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions, the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine at the MFA of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
As has become a tradition in the lead-up to Christmas, the primary aim of this initiative, now in its second year, is to raise funds for charitable projects supporting humanitarian needs, including aid for the military, assistance to children, women, individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and animal shelters. This year, the collected funds will be allocated to the joint charity projects of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Spouses Association, the Ambassadors’ Spouses Club of Kyiv and the International Women’s Club of Kyiv — IWCK. These projects aim to support the efforts of highly reputable NGOs, focusing on aiding IDP children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and animal shelters. Part of the funds will be contributed to a separate project called ‘Warm a Defender’ to purchase chemical warmers from a Ukrainian manufacturer.
The event was held simultaneously in two halls: the International Hall, which hosted representatives of diplomatic missions to present the cultures of their countries, including souvenirs and traditional food, and featured a musical programme; and the Ukrainian Hall, where the fair guests met more than 30 Ukrainian craftspeople, artists, and designers and had the opportunity to purchase their exclusive works.
The event was opened with speeches by Tetiana Sybiha, co-founder and leader of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Spouses Association; Andrii Sybiha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Nicole Jäger-Koydl, President of the ASCK; Elizabeth Kourkov, President of the IWCK.
Tetiana Sybiha emphasised the fair’s mission:
We highly appreciate the contribution of each country. All funds will go to those who need our care: children, people with disabilities. Moreover, of course, the Ukrainian Diplomatic Spouses Association takes care of our defenders. Last year, we donated part of the proceeds from the charity fair to buy chemical hand warmers, which went directly to our defenders who are on the front line and protect us every day. We appreciate every support we receive from you. It is a great honour for me to be here with you.’
Andrii Sybiha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, also thanked everyone for participating in this important charity initiative and noted that through such events, Ukrainians always show their unbreakable unity to the world:
‘The purpose of this event is to help. It is about unity, helping those who need it, our army, and that is why I am particularly pleased to be a part of this event today. And I am here today in three guises: as a minister, because this event has an international dimension, as a spouse, because I am grateful to my wife for organising an important charity initiative, and as a citizen of Ukraine, because I also want to be part of this great cause. Ukrainians always demonstrate their readiness in difficult times. Despite all the challenges, today we have this readiness to come together and help those who need it most. Glory to Ukraine!’
After the welcoming speeches, participants and guests gathered in the Ukrainian Hall, where the official opening ceremony took place. The Pravytsia children’s folklore group performed traditional Christmas carols, wishing everyone health, joy, and goodness.
Twenty-four embassies took part in the event: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Romania, Slovakia, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and Vietnam.
At the exhibition in the Ukrainian Hall, participants and guests of the event had a unique opportunity to learn more about Ukrainian culture and its diversity, as the works of Ukrainian artists Nataliia Artiukhova, Albina Balanda, Olesia Lvivska, Iryna Ostrovska, Zoia Stashuk, Tetiana Chorna, Azov Families, as well as products of well-known Ukrainian brands and Ukrainian projects, including: Author’s Cuisine Ukrainian, Peremoha.UA Charity Foundation, VydymoNevydymo, Vytach, World Embroidery Day NGO, ZERNO, Dolls by Sisters Katrychenko, Malovani Sontsem, Ancient Food Theatre, TseHlynaArt, Barvy trav, Dolna Sofiya, Dovgan-Art, Fedosenko.art, Gaptuvalnya, Good Bread from Good People, Iva Jewellery, Kalinina art, Koza Dereza, OLIZ, SVITLO, TKANA.UA, VKmosaic, Voit Ceramics. The best examples of Ukrainian jewellery, clothing, accessories, perfumes, as well as bread, coffee, teas and spices made according to ancient Ukrainian recipes were presented to the guests.
The musical programme featured soloists, music and dance groups presenting national traditions of the cultures of Azerbaijan, Argentina, Brazil, Armenia, India, Lithuania and Ukraine. At the invitation of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Spouses Association, Olesia Shevchenko, a Kyiv region’s folk women’s bandura band and Yevheniia Bondar, a pupil of the Children’s Music School No. 20, welcomed the guests with Christmas melodies. David Martello, renowned pianist, performed at the invitation of IWCK. The countries were represented by performers of Brazilian music, Folk Ensemble Caucasus, artists from the Nakshatra and Silk Road Indian dance schools, Armenian Hayreniq Ensemble, Mishki Mayu Folk Group, Argentine tango performers Natalia Babii and Petro Lytvynenko, Kateryna Busel and Antonii Matiuk, Students of Lyceum No. 176 (Miguel Saavedra Cervantes), the Sesulės Ensemble of the Maironis Lithuanian Cultural Society in Kyiv, and Brazilian capoeira performers. The concert ended with traditional evening performances in accordance with the traditions of St Andrew’s Day: kalytvas, fortune-telling, and unifying singing.
For the youngest visitors of the charity fair, there were masterclasses on making Christmas cards by the Kyiv International School, a Christmas mathematics workshop on designing Christmas decorations that combined traditional crafts with science and mathematics, as well as a workshop on creating straw holiday decorations and learning about the beauty of polyhedra. The first All-Ukrainian Academy ‘Sport and Education’ from the Corporate Football Association of Ukraine presented its programme for the development of children in rural areas through sports and education: young participants enjoyed a chess game, and their parents learned about the possibility of participating in the opening of schools that will help improve the future of Ukrainian children. The guests of the event also had a unique opportunity to test their first aid skills at a masterclass organised by the Embassy of the Order of Malta in Ukraine, learn how to weave camouflage nets for Ukrainian soldiers at a workshop organised by the Kitty Pechersk volunteer community, and even buy English-language literature of various genres from Book Haven — Used books.
However, the Christmas miracles and charity mission continues. From 30 November to 6 December 2024, at the initiative of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Spouses Association, a charity lottery will be held, and everyone is welcome to participate. Details about prizes and tickets are available on the event’s official Facebook page.
Caring hearts together — is the unity that inspires every Ukrainian every day, and good deeds are the key to the smiles and happiness of those who need our warmth.
