Another unforgettable week of kindness, friendship, and genuine humanity has come to an end for Ukrainian children who had the opportunity to rest in welcoming Slovenia.
Every day was filled with new discoveries, sincere emotions, and unforgettable meetings. The children visited the Adriatic coastline in Debeli Rtič, where they were able to enjoy the beauty of nature, the sea air, and carefree moments of childhood. Unforgettable impressions were brought by an excursion to the Pekel Cave (Jama Pekel), which opened up the amazing world of Slovenia’s underground nature before them.
A special day was the visit to the thermal waters of Laško, where the children could relax, regain their strength, and simply be children — smiling, carefree, and happy.
During the Ljubljana tour, the children visited Tivoli Park and learned about the history and beauty of the Slovenian capital. But the most valuable part was their visit to people with special needs. Our children prepared a creative performance for them and, together with them, crafted little angels and birds — symbols of peace, kindness, and hope. This meeting became a true lesson in humanity, compassion, and mutual support for everyone present.
Joint prayer occupied a special place throughout the entire stay. Three Divine Liturgies were celebrated with prayers for peace in Ukraine, for our defenders, for the children, for every Ukrainian family, and for the swift arrival of a just peace.
From the bottom of our hearts, we express our sincere gratitude to Father Ivan Skalivskyi for his spiritual care, fatherly support, heartfelt concern for the children, and tireless service to the Ukrainian community in Slovenia. It was thanks to his open heart that every child felt love, protection, and God’s blessing.
We extend special words of gratitude to the family of Natalia and Andriy, the family of Vira and Oleksiy, as well as to our incredible volunteers — Oksana, Majnca, and Hermina. Thanks to your work, open hearts, generosity, and love, this holiday became a real celebration for the children. You gave them not only interesting trips, but also the feeling that they are not alone, that there are people nearby ready to support them and warm them with the heat of their hearts.
Every child’s smile and every pair of happy eyes became the best gratitude to everyone who contributed to this good cause.
May the Lord bless all benefactors, volunteers, and friends of Ukraine a hundredfold. May the goodness you give to children today surely return to your families with peace, health, love, and God’s grace.
Together we prove: goodness knows no borders, and love and mercy are capable of healing even the most painful wounds of war.
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Author: Galina Malovshek
Photo: from the author’s archive