Thanks to an initiative of Caritas Italiana, with the support of the Italian Episcopate, 42 Ukrainian children will be taken away from the war and will spend a few weeks in the dioceses of Senigallia, Ascoli Piceno, and Macerata.
As reported by the Avvenire newspaper, of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), the minors arrive accompanied by their caregivers, adding a total of 80 people who benefit from this project which is also encouraged by the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine.
Likewise, these minors, coming from the cities of Nikopol and Kryviy Rih in Dnipropetrovsk, join another 600 children and young people who have been able to spend a few weeks of serenity, away from the war and the suffering that the confrontations in Ukraine continue to cause, in the wake of the invasion of Russia that began in February 2022.
According to the Italian media, “Since the beginning of summer, thanks to the involvement of various actors, solidarity holidays have been organized in collaboration with Caritas Spes and Caritas Ukraine, activities at the diocesan level and the intervention of the European Movement of Nonviolent Action”.
Already in 2022, the Italian charity had accepted Caritas Ukraine’s request “to offer a vacation period in Italy to about 200 children, before the resumption of school activities.”
This experience served to coordinate the arrival of minors in 2023, which has had the support of local churches and the faithful to provide food and lodging, as well as recreational activities.
The director of Caritas Italiana, Fr. Marco Pagniello, pointed out that the children “certainly dream of peace and of returning to a peaceful life, of going to school, of being able to hug their friends again and, for many of them, even to parents who are currently at war.”
Likewise, there are others who “come from orphanages and in them there is also the hope of finally being able to dream of a family.”
For her part, Pina Giuliani, one of the volunteers, stated that they will try to give a few days of serenity to the mothers and children who have arrived from Ukraine.