On a warm, sunny day, the children from Preschool Education Institution No. 36 gathered outdoors, where their playground was transformed into a theatrical stage. Artists from the Transcarpathian Academic Regional Puppet Theatre “Bavka” arrived to present an educational, eco-themed performance titled “The Adventures of Kozhyk and Letyk,” based on the fairy tale “Little Bats” (Kazhanchyky) by Nataliya Humen-Bilanych.

The main characters—two restless little bats—find themselves swept up in a series of adventures, while simultaneously introducing the audience to the real lives of these winged mammals. Through the actors’ expressive performances and lively presentation, the children learned why bats hunt only at night, how they protect humans and animals from insects, and why old attics and tree hollows serve as vital shelters for them.

The children responded enthusiastically to every twist in the plot, cheering on the characters with applause and eagerly engaging in dialogue with the actors.

This approach to exploring nature demonstrates that fairy tales and theater can easily dispel misconceptions, teaching children to treat every one of God’s creatures with respect.

The creative meeting took place as part of an eco-educational collaboration between the Ecology Commission of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy (MGCE) and the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF), with the support of the Archdiocese of Bamberg (Erzbistum Bamberg).

IRCEF Information Service