There are currently 4.9 million registered internally displaced persons in Ukraine, of which more than 3.5 million have acquired this status after 24 February 2022.
People who left their homes fleeing from the war need not only financial and humanitarian assistance, but also emotional support and acceptance in new communities. To this end, Zaporizhstal volunteers systematically hold meetings with large families of IDPs, institutions that take care of IDPs, and shelters. First of all, young steel workers deliver humanitarian aid and hold entertainment events for children affected by the war.
Recently, volunteers have visited a shelter in Kytayhorod village in Dnipropetrovsk region, where about two dozen families from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region live. A New Year's entertainment program with animators, contests and sweet gifts provided by "Zaporizhstal" has been arranged for the displaced children.
"War does not cancel childhood. Even in the most difficult conditions, it is necessary to find an opportunity to make children happy, to distract them from the emotional distress associated with the war. Especially during the New Year holidays it is important to bring light, joy and, of course, sweets to children. We are the most important pillar and source of support for our children. So, we do everything to make their childhood happy," Dmytro KSENITA, head of the Equipment Reliability Department at "Zaporizhstal", shared his thoughts.
Children were delighted with such a New Year's celebration. They said that their sincere wish was to celebrate the next New Year at home and without war.
"It was fun. Together with friends we danced, sang songs, and performed round dances. Most of all, I liked that there was a very bright Christmas tree. It was a true New Year's fairy tale. I dream that next year we will celebrate the holidays as cheerfully, but without war," said 11-year-old Milena, an internally displaced person from Mariupol.
