In the SOS Children’s Village in Imst (Tyrol), 50 children from Ukraine celebrate their first Christmas away from home. The dreaded melancholy did not materialize, on the contrary: you are fascinated.
As if fate hadn’t shocked the orphans, half-orphans and orphans from broken families enough, they too had to flee the bombs and rockets from their ‘social center’ in southeastern Ukraine. But the 50 children and young people between the ages of five and 18 and their carers were lucky, very lucky: in March they found a hostel in the SOS Children’s Village.
Exactly on the spot where Hermann Gmeiner founded the worldwide aid organization in 1949: in the children’s village in Imst with the symbolic name “House of Peace”. The original children’s village with the original goal of giving orphans a home.
Children and caregivers infinitely grateful
“Of course, the elderly know that there is war in their homeland, the young only know that there are problems,” says supervisor Svetlana Valchekhovska at the incredibly warm reception for the “Krone”. Everyone is infinitely grateful to be in Imst. For the refugees, however, it is the first Christmas away from home. Will it be sentimental or emotional? Will there even be tears of homesickness? “Christmas is a nice family celebration for us, we even had shows in our social center,” says Svetlana.
In the Orthodox faith it is celebrated on January 6 and 7 (Julian calendar) but people like to adopt the local tradition and celebrate it on January 24 in the village community. Christmas will also be brought forward in Ukraine this year.
Illumination of the Advent wreath is supposed to fulfill wishes
The children are not sad, but happy and relaxed and fascinated by the “magic fire” of the Advent wreath. “Every time the candles are lit, the children dream of their wishes,” says the facilitator. And they formulated it – just like the local children – in a “long letter to the Christ Child”. Only the eldest wrote down only one wish: “Stop the war!” (“End the war!”).
“The SOS Children’s Village ensures that there is a present under the Christmas tree for every child as part of the newly introduced elf system,” says village director Christian Rudisch. Svetlana admits that it is not easy for her and her colleagues: “I miss my family, especially my grandchildren.”
Eventually the light in the children’s eyes will overshadow their homesickness, at the latest when the many lights on the Christmas tree radiate even more magic than those on the Advent wreath.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
