The Berehovo Volunteer Center “Everyone Can Help” organized a captivating and informative workshop combining elements of environmental studies and creative expression, where participants delved into Transcarpathia’s flora while crafting intricate flower arrangements. Leonid Pokrytyuk, a biologist and expert affiliated with the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe, enlightened the children about plant life indigenous to their homeland. Meanwhile, Natalia Maslakova, a psychologist and art therapist, shared her expertise in the art of composing a flower arrangement, imparting the skills needed to arrange flowers and plants in a visually pleasing and harmonious manner.
At the outset of the workshop, as they engaged in the activities of the didactic game “Learning about Flora and Fauna Through Play,” the participants became acquainted with the medicinal trees, herbs, and shrubs characteristic of the region. The abundance of botanical materials allowed them to categorize the plants into various groups, including flowers, conifers, and ferns.
The exploration of vines proved to be particularly captivating for the children. Many of them had mistakenly believed that vines were solely associated with tropical forests. However, they discovered that in temperate climates, these plants flourish, albeit with a slightly different appearance. Grapes, ivy, hops, honeysuckle, birch, and even a type of rose are just a few examples of the vines readily found in Transcarpathia. Additionally, the students were introduced to the deciduous conifers by Leonid Pokrytyuk, explaining that while most conifers retain their needles throughout the year, some, like the larch, shed their needles during the winter.
The workshop also delved into the reasons behind the yellowing of grass, the changing colors of leaves on trees and shrubs, and the annual cycle of leaf shedding in autumn. It was a quest for understanding the natural world that left the students with an array of answers. The workshop concluded with the creation of beautiful flower arrangements, as participants blended their newfound knowledge of the local flora with artistic expression.
The event was held within the framework of cooperation between the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) headed by Olexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Informational Service of IRCEF
