Eugenia Tymoshenko, the daughter of the former Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, gained international attention as the faithful advocate for her mother’s release from prison during the rule of the disgraced former President Viktor Yanukovych. Her mother, now a member of parliament, was set free on the same day that Yanukovych fled power -- Feb. 22, 2014.
Less known is Eugenia Tymoshenko’s years of charity work helping disadvantaged children. Since Russia launched its war against Ukraine last year, the work has expanded to support volunteer battalions and internally displaced persons.
From May 30 – June 1, Tymoshenko’s Social Protection organization is hosting the IX International Charity Children’s Art Festival Follow Your Dreams in the Kyiv Children’s and Youth Palace. The venue, in downtown Kyiv on Mazepa 13, will feature performances by children and Ukrainian artists during a three-day program.
The culmination will be at 7 p.m on June 1, when a gala concert will be held in the Kyiv Children’s and Youth Palace.
“Come and see for yourself,” Tymoshenko said in an interview. “The children are incredible gifted.”
Some 200 children from orphanages, boarding schools and refugee camps all over Ukraine have been picked based on their skills in arts or stage performance. “We want to give those kids a good beginning in life. Remember when you were a child and you had a dream. It can change your whole live when somebody believes in you, right?”
For the first time, The Follow Your Dreams Festival, or Nazustrich Mriy in Ukrainian, will feature children with disorders, such as loss of hearing or autism.
The scope has also widened as the festival begins with a talent semi-final competition on May 31. Furthermore, a number of mostly young performers from Ukraine’s pop scene will be on stage with the children.
These include Aloysha who represented Ukraine in the 2010 Eurovision song contest and Andris Kapinsh, a choreographer known for the Yanukovych-era “Maydans” pop shows in Kyiv.
A total of 11 organizations and several volunteers are involved in the festival.
The festival jury this year includes circus artist Nikolay Kobzov and Grammy nominated musician Vlad Debryanskyy.
“It’s the first year we go public with a website in three languages, hoping for Western contributions so we can provide dignity for more children, give them the feeling that they really are somebody,” Tymoshenko said. “We stay in contact with the kids all year long, conducting classes and art projects to develop their creativity.”
The proceeds from the gala concert on June 1 will finance recreational trips to the Carpathians for up to 38 children at a time. “We have already collected half the money for a group of 38 kids and we hope for many more,” Tymoshenko said, adding that Social Protection doesn’t have support of any wealthy individuals and relies on smaller contributions.
She dismissed allegations that the Follow Your Dreams Festival is a tool for politicians. “It’s all about giving the children, the amazing children, the attention they deserve,” she said, hoping to raise awareness to the needs of children as Ukraine is only beginning a transition from large orphanages to family based care.
Ukraine is far from living up to the United Nations standards for protection of children’s rights. A day of special attention to the well-being of children and their rights is marked on June 1 in most of the former Eastern bloc countries.
Helping soldiers is also important and the Tymoshenko fund says it has supported four volunteer battalions fighting the war with Hr 38 million so far.
“The soldiers who stand up for their land need food to be able to defend our freedom – and our children need self-confidence to grow up to be valuable citizens and good parents. It’s all about making society healthier,” she said.
“I am very proud of our children,” Tymoshenko said.
For more information, go to the festival’s website here: http://www.mriy.org/en/
