At the end of May, the annual district Family Creativity Festival “Rodovid” took place at Secondary General School No. 280 in Kyiv. The event was organized by the school’s administration, the Department of Family, Youth, and Sports Affairs, and the Family Center of Darnytskyi District with the support of the Roma NGO “Chirikli.” Eight families participated in the festival, with children attending Secondary School No. 280.
A notable feature of this year’s festival was the participation of multicultural families. Participants included Ukrainian, Uzbek, Arabic, and Roma families.
Festival participants presented their family’s creative achievements, history, and traditions to the audience. They even created family trees and prepared dishes from their respective national cuisines.
The festival was also attended by Ukrainian folk artists Igor Krykunov and Leonid Sandulenko, Markus Andrade from the Council of Europe, Vice President of the “Chirikli” NGO Zemfira Kondur, and audience members from various regions of Ukraine involved in the implementation of the “ROMED-2” program*.
The concert program featured performances by festival participants, school art groups, and the “Romance” theater. The highlight of the event was the performance by Ukrainian folk artist Leonid Sandulenko.
The participation of Roma families and Roma children was especially significant for us. It was the first time they agreed to represent their families, prepare a program, and showcase Roma culture. Three Roma families, whose children attend School No. 280, were involved. Taking the stage was a challenging task for these families, as they had never participated in such events before. However, they successfully fulfilled their roles and proudly represented the Roma community. We believe that such events not only provide insights into the cultures of various nationalities living in Ukraine but also foster active community engagement, promote unity among people, and break down stereotypes.
Learn more about the “ROMED-2” program: http://romed.coe-romact.org/romed2
*Note: The “ROMED-2” program aims to improve the living conditions and social inclusion of Roma communities.
