Umbrella of Ukrainian Hope

09/19/2026

THE WEB OF FRIENDSHIP

We took a ball of yarn and sat together in a circle.

The rule was simple:

When you passed the yarn to another child, you had to say something kind about them.

A compliment. A kind word. Something you noticed and appreciated.

It seemed like such a simple game.

But we discovered that saying something kind to another person is not always easy.

Some children knew what to say right away.

Some took a long time to find the words.

Some became emotional.

And some suddenly heard something good about themselves — and their whole face lit up.

Meanwhile, the yarn kept moving from one person to another.

It tangled.

It crossed.

And slowly, it created something beautiful — a web.

A web of friendship.

We told the children:

“If someone lets go of their thread, our whole web changes.”

Maybe that is the most important lesson.

Every one of us matters.

And sometimes, one kind word can become a little bit of support for someone’s heart. ❤️

09/19/2026

WHEN THE VOLUNTEERS ARE CHILDREN TOO

This was probably one of the most emotional moments for me.

Our volunteers are children too.

And I watched them throughout these days.

I saw how nervous they were at first.

How they searched for the right words.

How they learned to connect with the children.

How, little by little, they became more confident.

And alongside them, I watched the children change too.

There were more smiles.

More curiosity.

More trust.

Sometimes all you need to do is sit beside someone.

Play.

Smile.

Listen.

Pay attention.

I looked at our girls and saw them growing up.

Not in age.

But in responsibility.

In their ability to notice and care about another person.

Maybe this is where real volunteering begins.
YouthVolunteers

09/19/2026

THE FIRST FEW MINUTES MATTER MOST Meeting someone for the first time.

Those first few minutes are so important.

Especially when you are meeting children you have never met before.

What should you say?

How should you approach them?

How can you make sure a child doesn’t feel pressured?

We decided to play.

A ball. Movement. Laughter. Simple games.

And little by little, the awkwardness disappeared.

Eyes became more open.

Someone started laughing.

Someone came a little closer.

Someone asked:

“Can we do it again?”

That is how connection begins.

Not with big words.

But with play, attention, and simple human contact. ❤️

09/19/2026

09/14/2026

09/14/2026

SEPTEMBER STARTS WITH KINDNESS

We started September with a visit to the children at Dovira Children’s Center, which Umbrella of Ukrainian Hope has been supporting since the beginning of the full-scale war.

These are children who were evacuated from Dnipro.

But this time, I was not alone.

I was joined by young volunteers from Vynnyky Scientific Lyceum and artist and craftswoman Mariana Motyka.
Мар'яна Мотика

For the girls, this was more than just a trip.

It was their own first experience of volunteering. Their first meeting. Their first introductions. Their first attempts to find a way to connect with children whose lives and stories are all so different.

We didn’t come simply to organize activities.
We came to be there for them.
And that is how our little story of a big friendship began.

09/11/2026

Childhood Memories That Will Stay Forever

What will you remember most about Camp Dobrodiy?

These pages were created by the children themselves throughout Camp Dobrodiy.

Every drawing, every handwritten word, every smile, every colorful page reflects a moment of safety, friendship, creativity, and hope.

During two weeks together, these children discovered new talents, built friendships, laughed freely, and found moments of peace in the midst of war.

Some memories cannot be measured with numbers.

They become part of childhood forever.

The greatest outcome of Camp Dobrodiy is not only the activities we organized—it is the memories, confidence, friendships, and hope the children will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

09/11/2026

CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY THAT INSPIRES

When do children’s eyes shine the brightest?

When they are given the freedom to create.

Each creative day revealed new talents and gave children a safe space to express their thoughts and emotions without words.

Working with clay and papier-mâché helped reduce stress while developing imagination, creativity, and fine motor skills.

During Ocean Day, the children created intuitive paintings, immersing themselves in a world of color, imagination, and self-expression.

On Friendship Day, they handcrafted meaningful gifts for their friends, filling each creation with kindness, gratitude, and love.

For Grandparents Day, the children wrote heartfelt letters and created drawings that became sincere expressions of love and appreciation.

They also colored mandalas, designed handmade jewelry, painted T-shirts, and worked together to build a bee house, learning to care for nature through creativity and teamwork.

⸻

With Heartfelt Gratitude

Our sincere thanks to Rossa for generously providing creative materials that made these inspiring activities possible.

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Quote for the bottom of the page

“Creativity gives children the courage to dream, the confidence to express themselves, and the hope to build a brighter future.”

09/02/2026

Memories of Summee Camp DobroDiy
TEAM BUILDING GAMES

Friendship, Support, and Shared Victories

Team-building activities became a space where children learned to trust one another, work together, encourage their friends, and celebrate shared achievements.

Through interactive quests, sports relays, creative challenges, outdoor adventures, and fun competitions, every child discovered the importance of being part of a team. These experiences nurtured new friendships, mutual respect, responsibility, confidence, and the understanding that together we are stronger.

With Heartfelt Gratitude

We sincerely thank everyone who made these meaningful team experiences possible:

• Vynnyky Lyceum — for their generous support, sports facilities, engaging team games, and for creating an environment that encouraged cooperation, friendship, and teamwork.

• B3 Paintball Club (Briukhovychi) — for an exciting team challenge that taught children communication, responsibility, trust, and mutual support in a safe and enjoyable environment. Клуб Б3 [ Бʼтриʼпарк ], Пейнтбол/Лазертаг/Страйкбол Львів], Пейнтбол/Лазертаг/Страйкбол Львів

• Our dedicated volunteers — whose enthusiasm, care, and encouragement created a space filled with trust, joy, confidence, and new victories every single day.

Quote

“Together, we discover our greatest strength — encouraging one another, overcoming challenges, and celebrating every victory as one team.”