Their pensions may be meager, but these elderly people know how to cheer themselves up.
Every weekend at 7 p.m., ensemble Druzhba meets up in the underpass of the Teatralna metro station to sing and dance to Ukrainian folk songs.
Of 25 members, ages 47 to 79, most are women.
They have all they need: strong voices, the accordion and most importantly – the spirit.
Babushkas don ethnic Ukrainian costumes for national holidays or each other’s birthdays.
On Nov. 21, they got dressed up to celebrate one of their lead singers’ birthday.
One costume costs about Hr 500, which makes up a bigger part of a monthly pension for many of them.
Yet babushkas are undeterred. Unable to afford a big wardrobe, some of them buy second-hand garments in the true female fashion.
Passers-by love their little shows often stopping for longer than a minute to admire the young spirit amid the wrinkles. Some people even join in.
Druzhba started their public performances 18 years ago on Maidan Nezalezhnosti square but were soon asked to move from the center.
They chose Teatralna station as their stage and have been spreading joy for the last decade.
