Victory over the grey city
The swarms of paper planes flied upon the children, who have gathered for the Children's World Festival of Gifts and Talents in the hall of Ukrainian National Music Academy. The planes have brought happy news on their wings - "God loves you", "You're special". To everybody's delight, right after them the hall was filled with balloons of different colors - wonderful world of childhood has covered all the children and guests with a wave of happiness.
For three days the children were demonstrating their talents and skills in such categories as choreography singing, art and drama. For three days organizers and jury were amazed with young artists and amount of talent and inspiration, which Creator has put inside of them.
"For the first time our children took part in a festival of such level, - Natalya Rostovska, director of Salvation children's center in Eastern Ukraine shared her impressions, - it became an important motivation for them to develop the talents God has given them". "Children felt care and warmth, they were happy of being worth of something and that such a big celebration was made for them, - Maria Kogut director of Bethel orphanage in Western Ukraine said - Although not all of the participants received top awards, they were still happy that they took part in the festival".
The Children's World festival of gifts and talents could be easily referred as more successful cultural event, if there wasn't just one "but". The children who were on the stage were former abandoned and homeless, those who were called 'orphans, and children left without parental care'.
The purpose of the festival was to help the children show their creative potential and give them an opportunity to feel loved and accepted. It required many efforts to raise funds and organize the festival. Just imagine that most of the money came only in a couple of week before the festival! But it became a wonderful celebration and opportunity for children.
Flowers on the landfill
No one from the organizers had any doubts that the children from orphanages are talented but they were not sure if the society would support their initiative. Often enough, we hear about bad inheritance and damage that come from street children to the society. But we don't give up, we don't agree with it and believe that these children have future.
About a half year ago at one press-conference on the subject of homeless children at Father's House one journalist often repeated that these children will only become "morons" after "sniffing glue and living on the streets".
In spite of perplexity of colleagues and pain in the eyes of Father's House workers with the confidence of a certificated psychiatrist this woman was developing her terrible thoughts. Is it a single instance of an angry person? It's not at all. As an educated representative of our society, this woman and mother (after all!) just followed the stereotype that took a deep root in the consciousness of many people. They think that no flowers grow on the landfill but it is not true. That's where our little treasures have grown up. One just must know how to find them and help them shine like diamonds.
Victory over the grey city
However, they are a threat, these dirty and hungry children. It is a threat to our heartlessness and to our grey and satisfied life with narrow egocentric interests. It was not an accident that as the theme of most plays at the Festival these young artists chose to tell about indifference and heartlessness of people.
We need to overcome the fear and pay the price of love. It means to respond and take part, to reach out a helping hand. Otherwise we will have many orphans and homeless children on the streets of our grey cities!
The festival has showed one more time that the world is not without good people, and that every child has future and hope, no mater who were his parents and what was his life like before.
About 300 children from 23 non-governmental, mostly Christian, orphanages and centers, participated in the festival.
We would like to express sincere gratitude to the people, who has opened their hearts to children and gave them love and support: Dana Morey, Slavic Radchuk, Ludmila Volynets, Larysa Gurkivska, Mark Rainer, Olexander Sidorenko, Andriy Jazelenko, "Ukraine 3000" ICF, "Holt International" Children Services. We believe that our wonderful and loving God has prepared special gifts for everyone!
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