Since July 12, 50 children and young people from a dance group from Kharkiv have been guests at the European Youth Education Center Magdeburg (EJBM). As part of the “One Week of Peace” project, an initiative of the EJBM and the Diocese of Magdeburg's Partnership Action East, the young guests are experiencing a week full of light-heartedness and normality far away from the war in their home country.

The project is organized in close cooperation with local organizations and the Magdeburg-Ottersleben multi-generation house, which have jointly put together a varied leisure program for the group. The children are particularly looking forward to a visit to the water park, as such activities are currently not possible in Kharkiv due to the war.

Christian Scharf, Head of EJBM, is deeply moved by the enormous willingness of the supporters to donate and help. "We are still overwhelmed by the willingness of civil society to help our project and the children. As a youth education center, we have been in contact with colleagues in Ukraine for a long time. We were deeply impressed by the work being done there under these terrible conditions. We wanted to do what we could to help,” says Scharf.

Many of the young guests have already fled from their towns and villages to Kharkiv. Their everyday lives are characterized by air raids, curfews, a lack of prospects and the death of family members and friends. "We cannot compensate for the development and educational opportunities that have been taken away from children and young people in Ukraine as a result of this disgusting war of aggression. We hope that this week of peace will at least show them that the world doesn't have to be so depressing everywhere - a bit of normality,” says Christian Scharf.

As a thank you for the hospitality and support of the people of Magdeburg, the children and young people thanked them with dance performances. Due to the high level of donations, a second week is already planned for another group. Donations for other projects are still possible.

Contribution to “A week of peace” on MDR: To the video