UKRAINE: Salesians publish book of memories from students and teachers about first days of war
Book is valuable record of the experiences of Ukrainian children
(MissionNewswire) Salesians in Ukraine* have published a bilingual book “My First Day of War”, a collection of documentary accounts by students and teachers at the Vsesvit Salesian High School in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Published in Ukrainian and English, the book is a collection of personal memories of what was experienced on Feb. 24, 2022, which was the first day of the war.
The project was conceived and coordinated by Natalia Nahalevska, an Italian teacher and deputy head of studies at the school. She encouraged the students to share their memories so that their experiences of the first days of the war would not be lost.
Nahalevska explained, “I realized that, as time went on, many details and experiences linked to the first hours and days of the war would gradually fade from memory. That’s why I suggested to the students — obviously only those who wanted to — that they put their memories down on paper. Almost all of them wanted to take part. I still remember a little girl who, after finishing her story, took a deep breath and said: ‘Phew… I finally feel better’. At that moment, I realized that many children were carrying those experiences with them in silence, deep in their hearts, without ever having spoken of them before.”
This book includes photographs, excerpts from correspondence, handwritten letters from the children and drawings. Each page traces the chronology of events and captures the various emotions — fear, uncertainty, hope, solidarity and faith — felt by the children during those first days.
The project took almost a year to complete. Thanks to the joint efforts of pupils, teachers and benefactors, this publication has become a valuable record of the experiences of Ukrainian children. It is also an important expression of the Salesian educational mission, which supports youth and fosters in them a spirit of faith, hope and love, even in a situation characterized by the great challenges posed by the war.
Since the beginning of the war, Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and around the globe have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of people affected by the war.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
UNHCR – Ukraine
*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
