Volunteers from the organization “Everyone Can Help” were paid a visit by volunteers from the “People in Need” organization. Daryna and Maria, our instructors, conducted sessions on “Children’s Rights” and led a creative activity where we painted T-shirts. We were also fortunate to have Leonid Pokrytyuk, an expert ornithologist and a volunteer at the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies, join our training and share an informative lecture.
During our creative session, we had some unexpected guests in the form of two storks, Tyson and Yanosh, who were undergoing rehabilitation at the volunteer center. They curiously approached the children, observing their artistic endeavors. Leonid Pokrytyuk regaled us with stories from the lives of these majestic birds, as well as other residents of the volunteer center. For instance, the stork from Bushtyno village earned the name Tyson because of its spirited nature, while the stork from Ivanivka was dubbed Yanosh. One of the center’s smallest inhabitants, the Eurasian scops owl, hails from the city of Mukachevo and suffers from a complex wing injury that Mr. Leonid and his colleagues are diligently tending to.
Throughout the session, the children discovered that the scops owl is Ukraine’s sole nesting owl species that embark on actual migrations. Given its penchant for insects, it embarks on a lengthy journey to tropical Africa (Sahel) as winter approaches. In Transcarpathia, it favors old gardens, parks, and roadside avenues as its preferred habitats. Regrettably, due to unchecked tree felling, the population of this rare Red Book species is steadily dwindling. Leonid Pokrytyuk stressed the significance of this issue while discussing ways to preserve biodiversity. The students also took notice of the volunteer center’s furry companions, the guinea pigs. Their gentle disposition makes them great companions for children, and they remain calm and composed when handled by the children.
The event was held as part of the cooperation of the Interreligious and Environmental Civil Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) (headed by Olexander Bokotey) with the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Informational Service of IRCEF
