fbpx
Photo 14:38 09 Mar 2023

Solution to win: Children's choir raises ₴1 mln for Ukraine's air defense

Photo: Rubryka

Back in May 2022, Rozhyshche volunteer and activist Viktoria Shvartskop saw a performance by Ukrainian children who sang with Ukrainian and Polish flags to raise money for defenders' needs, Rayon.Rozhyshche reports.

What is the problem?

russia constantly attacks Ukrainian regions with kamikaze drones, trying to damage critical energy infrastructure and exhaust Ukraine'a air defense. Soldiers have to use expensive anti-aircraft projectiles to destroy drones.

As Rubryka reported, only on March 9, the Air Force destroyed 4 out of 8 kamikaze drones launched by russia. The military lacks anti-drone guns to eliminate enemy drones.

What is the solution?

The idea to create a children's vocal group to raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine was born in Lublin, Poland.

There, Rozhyshche volunteer and activist Viktoria Shvartskop saw the performance of Ukrainian children who sang with Ukrainian and Polish flags to raise money for the defenders' needs in May 2022. 

How does it work?

On July 14, the children gathered at the Samooborona public organization's headquarters for a rehearsal in Rozhyshche. They selected the repertoire and tried to perform the songs together.

Photo by Rayon.Rozhyshche

Photo by Rayon.RozhyshcheViktoria recalls that the first backbone of the future famous volunteer team was a group of five children. Later, more and more willing people joined the charitable cause. The woman admits that the team has no pretensions to impress with academic performance and claims no professional notes.

Photo by Rayon.Rozhyshche

"We are not professional singers or performers. I have no music hearing or voice. But I can shout loudly, and I know how to organize. It is these skills that have become key and very necessary. We go out to sing to support our defenders — morally and financially. We go out to sing so that no one forgets that we have to fight until Victory," Viktoria Shvartskop confidently says.

Photo by Rayon.Rozhyshche

The group's first performance took place in the summer on a Thursday. This day was chosen because there are two markets in Rozhyshche, a second-hand market, and a city market.

On Thursday, the largest number of people gather in the city. Children near Bohdan (that's the name of the location next to the monument to Bohdan Khmelnytskyi in Rozhyshche) managed to collect more than 20,000 hryvnias.

Photo by Rayon.Rozhyshche

"At that time, we all wore national embroidered shirts and were very scared. The fact that we raised such a large amount motivated everyone. We were joined by other children who also wanted to help the armed forces," says Viktoria

The team of young volunteers consists of 18 people: 15 children and three adult girl organizers. The youngest of the volunteers is six years old, and the oldest is 23. But age is not an indicator here; everyone is friends with each other. There are no primary and secondary roles. Everyone is essential.

Photo by Rayon.Rozhyshche

"We have complete freedom of self-expression and freedom of action. If you want to lead Instagram, you lead; if you're going to film TikTok videos, you shoot them. If you want to speak into the microphone, you speak," Viktoria shares. "It is very cool that everyone is engaged in this work voluntarily and with pleasure. Volunteering has turned into such a collective hobby."

She also admits that children are very motivated by feedback and thanks from the military, for which they collect money for adult and serious things:

  • anti-drone guns,
  • cars,
  • quadcopters

When the defenders come on vacation or are undergoing treatment, they try to meet with the children's choir to thank them personally.

"I have repeatedly heard the boys say that thanks to us, they understand what they are fighting for. Instead, their gratitude, courage, and protection give us the strength to carry out the work we have consciously undertaken," says the volunteer.

Viktoria shares that despite the young age of some team members, everyone understands well why they are singing and what they are collecting money for.

When new fundraising is opened, a lecture is organized for children, where they talk in detail about what they will raise for.

In this way, the children learned a lot about anti-drone guns, quadcopters, and the range of damage of modified kamikaze drones.

The total sum raised by the Banderivci choir has already exceeded 900,000 hryvnias and is rapidly approaching the first million for the armed forces.

"It is important to understand that we did not collect all this money ourselves. Many people and teams joined them, which brought very substantial funds. And we are infinitely grateful to every one of them. We also thank you for every bill in our mailbox and every transfer to the card," says Viktoria.

Category:
Події

If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: