The regional children’s environmental contest, “The Carpathians – Creation Entrusted to Us,” concluded as a celebration of children’s creativity, sincerity, and love for their native nature. Young nature enthusiasts, their mentors, parents, and organizers gathered at the Transcarpathian Regional Center for Children and Youth Creativity (“PADIYUN”) to honor the winners and participants of this extensive environmental education initiative.
A highlight of the event was an exhibition of entries from the contest’s largest category: the drawing competition, “The Carpathians – Our Shared Home.” The colorful artworks on display filled the hall with incredible energy; the children’s unique perspectives on the mountains, forests, rivers, and diverse wildlife reminded everyone present just how fragile—yet majestic—the beauty of the Carpathian region truly is.
This significant event serves as a wonderful opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped bring this vision to life and imbue it with profound meaning.
First and foremost, we offer our sincere thanks to the Lord God for His blessings, generous gifts, and the opportunity to realize such an important initiative dedicated to preserving the world He created. With boundless respect and the deepest gratitude, we thank the indomitable defenders of Ukraine. It is solely thanks to their resilience, courage, and daily acts of heroism that our children are able to live, learn, develop their talents, and believe in a bright future for their native land. Our young talents are truly inspiring. We thank every author for their boldness of thought, their genuine concern for the fate of the Carpathians, and the remarkable sense of responsibility for the environment that radiates from every submitted work. Standing alongside these children were wise teachers, mentors, and parents—to whom we extend our sincere gratitude for their patience, their support of these young gifted individuals, and their daily efforts in fostering environmental awareness.
We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to the eco-trainers from IRCEF and the educators from the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection at the Transcarpathian Regional Center for Children and Youth Creativity (“PADIYUN”)—Oksana Kremin and Olha Velychkanych. It was their tireless, persistent work, their meticulous attention to every organizational detail, and their sincere passion for their mission that ensured the competition was held at a high professional standard, bringing together hundreds of caring children from across the entire Transcarpathian region.
Winners who attended the ceremony received diplomas and valuable prizes. For those participants who could not be present in person, their well-deserved awards have been carefully prepared and are ready for dispatch. These can be sent via postal service; please provide your shipping details to the competition coordinator: 📞 Oksana Kremin (066 443 75 46). In addition, electronic versions of diplomas and certificates of participation are now publicly available; you can find and download your document via this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-h8kdMS5lGGAw226fzpzzp-p2Ty276Sp?usp=sharing
We extend our sincere congratulations to all the winners and thank everyone who took part in this important endeavor! Let us remember: preserving the Carpathians is our shared calling and a responsibility entrusted to us!
The children’s environmental contest “The Carpathians – Creation Entrusted to Us” was organized by the Ecology Commission of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, the NGO “Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe” (IRCEF), and the Transcarpathian Regional Center for Children and Youth Creativity “PADIYUN,” within the framework of the project “Ecological Catechesis: ‘Wonderful Are Your Works, O Lord,'” with the support of the Dioceses of Würzburg, Mainz, and Speyer.
IRCEF Information Service
