05/06/2026
..."I'm a bit excited, a bit happy and a bit proud too...feeling really good to be honest...
.because just now, my project is actually happening...I am sending 25 gifts to 25 individual children in Źinkiv,Ukraine..that's a town smaller than Longford but very near the front line where the war is raging ...
..through the Attic,I became involved in a project called' Leadership for Life' and for part of the course,we had to do a community project to make a positive impact in people's lives...
.so, my aunt Úna, who works in Bright Beginners, told me about a local group 'Little Steps for Ukraine- Longford '...they send weekly gifts to children in Ukraine who are suffering because of the war there...
.that idea really interested me because it's so practical and sends individual help from Longford directly to vulnerable children...
.my next step was to contact local national schools and Scoil Eimear came on board straight away...I explained the project to the 6th class and they were extremely positive and excited....
..so, they collected new clothes,sweets, toys, crayons and each child in Scoil Eimear included a personal letter for the child in Ukraine...it was really heart to heart...a Ukrainian boy in the class helped with the letters...and when a Ukrainian lady Julia was helping with putting the gifts in order, she actually cried...
.also the Longford Brownies and the Attic and some family members also helped to put gifts together...
.yes, it was emotional for everyone...in a good way...
.all of the children have,sadly, experienced the horrors of war and still do today...they have lost parents and friends and pets and their homes...so hopefully these gifts will bring those children a little bit of joy...
.every Friday, Little Steps for Ukraine - Longford send out gifts and we have gathered enough to send out more next Friday, so I'm happy about that..
..school ? I've just finished Transition Year in Scoil Mhuire and it was an extremely rewarding year..we did so much...
.my future ?..I'm not really sure yet, but hopefully doing something that'll make a positive difference..maybe journalism..I enjoyed my work placement with Shannonside..but I enjoyed all the other work experience too...
.influences ?...I'm lucky to have fantastic parents, a fantastic family and my aunty Úna is just amazing...their support has been brilliant...
.and in less than a week, the children in Ukraine will be getting these gifts and I'm really happy about that...."
Éva- Mai Glancy.