How Hickling W.I. Has Put A Smile On The Faces Of Child Refugees From Ukraine.
On 24th February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russia-Ukrainian War which had begun in 2014, members of Hickling WI, like everyone else in Britain received this news in horror. We found it unbelievable that this was happening in the modern age. Although President Viadimir Putin announced this was just a special military operation, the impact on ordinary people especially children soon became apparent. Hickling WI members were shocked at the appalling suffering which the war was creating. By November 2022 over 7.8million people had left Ukraine for safety with Europe’s largest refugee crisis since WWII. Like many others, the WI members gave cash generously to the various organisations who were collecting to help the Ukrainian people, but we wondered if we could do more.
Children began arriving in England having experienced the terrible suffering of war in their country. They had left behind their books and toys; lost contact with their friends and had seen their homes destroyed.
The Hickling WI heard that about 200 families had found safety in their local area. The WI who is always at the forefront of community activities wondered if they could help the Ukrainian families in any way. One member made the comment that all a child needs as well as love is something to cuddle, something to read and to be able to feel emotionally comfortable. Another member then suggested we could make reading cushions or perhaps comfort quilts to be given to the children refugees –and so a project began!!
The WI initially envisaged making 10 items to give away as Christmas gifts to the locally housed Ukrainian children. It was thought that a reading cushion with a book and a soft toy in the pocket would be something which the children would treasure and also could be taken back with them when they eventually are able to return home.
The more skilful needlewomen in the group embroidered and quilted to create unique and beautiful throws with book/toy pockets.
It soon became apparent that 10 items would not be enough to ensure all local Ukrainian children would receive a gift from the Hickling WI for Christmas. During December the members cut out, sewed and embroidered. The local community upon hearing about what was happening also rallied around to help by buying cushion infills, material, soft toys and books. By the time the Ukrainian Christmas Day arrived [7th January] over 80 items had been made and assembled
In December, the Mayor of Rushcliffe was invited to a presentation evening where some of the cushions and quilts were on display. Some Ukrainian families were invited, and the event turned into a very emotional evening with many tears of both sadness and happiness. A Ukrainian mother spoke about how she and her family would usually spend Christmas and the traditions her family had. To see a 10yr old boy sit and hug his reading cushion was a memory which will stay with us all. To see the joy in a father’s eyes as he accepted an embroidered quilt for his newly born child following a traumatic escape from Odessa made all our efforts worthwhile and we all felt very humble.
Hickling WI members attended a community session for Ukrainian family refugees just before Christmas and gave out more gifts including another beautiful quilt for a newborn baby.
On the Eve of the Ukrainian Christmas the Hickling WI members were invited to attend a celebration Ukrainian party. We took along more quilts and cushions to give to the children. The Mayor of Rushcliffe who has become passionate about our project came along with us and saw for herself how overjoyed the children were to receive their gifts.
Not only have the Hickling WI members given many Ukrainian children a gift to treasure but they have gained a great deal from doing this project as well. It has been a humbling experience as we can only imagine what some of the children have seen and experienced; it has given the members of the group an opportunity to work together and so much has been learned about Ukrainian culture and way of life. Prior to this most of the group perhaps would not have been able to pinpoint the country of Ukraine on a map.
Friendships have also been forged.
(Mrs Carol Beadle, Jan 2023)
The Mayor of Rushcliffe.
The Mayor of Rushcliffe and Hickling resident, Cllr Tina Combellack supported the WI project throughout. In January 2023, she wrote:
UKRAINE
I have attended many Ukrainian events but nothing so inspiring as the Hickling WI events for Ukrainian children living in Rushcliffe. These children will have experienced a very different Christmas away from their extended families in Ukraine. The WI members made 80 quilted reading pillows and toys and quilts to give to the children in Hickling, Sutton Bonnington, West Bridgford and Keyworth.
To date Rushcliffe has 160 sponsor properties housing 307 Ukrainian guests, significantly the highest number in Nottinghamshire.
Cllr.Tina Combellack
In a further article outlining her work with Rushcliffe’s charities during her Mayoral year, Councillor Combellack wrote:
UKRAINE
Whilst not one of my Mayoral Charities, I have been doing whatever I can to help raise awareness and funds for the Ukrainian refugees who have been homed in Rushcliffe.
To date Rushcliffe has 160 sponsor properties housing 307 Ukranian guests, significantly the highest number in Nottinghamshire.
I have attended numerous events, flag raising, sponsorship, presentations, coffee mornings, awards ceremonies, carol services and Christmas parties to help these families feel safe and welcome.
This is MORTAAMKA a good luck doll given to me at a Ukrainian Christmas Day party. It is made by singing whilst wrapping material to make the doll.
I now know a little more about Ukrainian life and culture and would like to share words written by Viktoriia Tkachenko to explain their
Christmas in Ukraine.
“Traditionally Christmas in Ukraine starts on January 6th (Christmas Eve in Julian Calendar)
It last until Feast of Epiphany on January 19. At the same time more and more Ukranians celebrate Christmas according to Gregorian calendar on December 25th. In 2022 approx 70% of Ukrainian people supported the change. Since 2017 both Dec 25th and Jan 7th are the official state holidays.
Christmas Eve (Holy Evening) is marked by traditional family gathering so called Svyata Vecherya (Holy Dinner) Its very popular in Ukrain to visit God parents this day and sing Christmas carols in their houses. The festivities usually start with the appearance of the first star in the sky.
The table should be served with 12 disches which symbolize 12 apostles. These dishes are dairy free and without meat. The main disch of the venign is Kutia (boiled wheat or rice with poppy seeds, raisins and honey.) The main drink is Uzvar (boiled dried fruit like pears, apples, plums and cherries). The main decoration is Didukh. Didukh has many names: straw talisman, dido, sip-rai kiliada didochok and koilidn.
Traditionally the sheaf was made from the last stalk of wheat harvested during the year.It may include wheat, flax, oats & rye. According to biblical parable, Jesus Christ was born in a stable in the cold season. When Joseph saw a crack in the wall, he closed it with a sheaf, so it became warmer in the stable. Thus the tradition to put a festive sheaf in the house appeared.
Christmas songs are very important part of the shole holiday season. In Ukraine we have different types of Christmas songs: Kiliadky (from the word Calendar) these songs are the Christmas. And we also have Shchedrivky (from the Ukrainian word Generosity) for so called Generous Evening 13th January”.
A further article appeared on Rushcliffe’s online news bulletin in January 2023:
Hickling WI donate over 80 hand-made gifts to Ukrainian children in Rushcliffe
A Women’s Institute group have wowed Ukrainian guests and hosts in Rushcliffe by donating over 80 hand crafted gifts to children over Christmas and during the Ukraine Orthodox Christmas this month.
Hickling WI brought wonderful festive cheer to dozens of children who moved to the Borough last year in light of the ongoing conflict in their country and have donated reading cushions and quilts which were gratefully received by the guests.
The hand-made items are now being treasured by those in and around Hickling, West Bridgford and Keyworth after attending their catch ups in recent weeks.
Carol Beadle was among the group members from the WI who chose to make the gifts, feeling they wanted to do their part to comfort children spending Christmas in a new country for the first time.
She said: “When Russia invaded Ukraine, members of Hickling WI, like everyone else in Britain received this news in horror. We found it unbelievable that this was happening in the modern age.
“Like many others, the WI members gave cash generously to the various organisations who were collecting to help the Ukrainian people, but we wondered if we could do more.
“Children began arriving in England having experienced the terrible suffering of war in their country, had left behind their books and toys and lost contact with their friends and had seen their homes destroyed.
“We heard that about 200 families had found safety in their local area. One member made the comment that all a child needs as well as love is something to cuddle, something to read and to be able to feel emotionally comfortable. Another member then suggested we could make reading cushions or perhaps comfort quilts to be given to the children refugees and so a project began.
“We initially envisaged making 10 items to give away as Christmas gifts and the more skilful needlewomen in the group embroidered and quilted to create unique and beautiful throws with book or toy pockets.
“It soon became apparent that 10 items would not be enough and the local community upon hearing about what was happening also rallied around to help by buying cushion infills, material, soft toys and books.
“By the time the Ukrainian Christmas Day arrived on January 7 over 80 items had been made and assembled.
“The Mayor of Rushcliffe Cllr Tina Combellack was invited to a presentation evening where some of the cushions and quilts were on display and the event turned into a very emotional evening with many tears of both sadness and happiness.
“She has become passionate about our project came along with us and saw for herself how overjoyed the children were to receive their gifts.
“A Ukrainian mother spoke about how she and her family would usually spend Christmas and the traditions her family had. To see a 10 year-old-boy sit and hug his reading cushion was a memory which will stay with us all.
“To also see the joy in a father’s eyes as he accepted an embroidered quilt for his newly born child following a traumatic escape from Odessa made all our efforts worthwhile and we all felt very humble.”
The WI members hosted a celebration in Hickling in December before meeting the groups in West Bridgford and then Keyworth, last week.
Pam Kirby runs the West Bridgford group at Wightman Hall on Stratford Road in the town on Wednesdays and thanked the group for the donations.
She said: “We had a lovely morning welcoming the WI and the group members were so pleased to receive the gifts, they have been so warmly received, a huge thank you to them.
“We’re aware new Ukrainian guests are still arriving in West Bridgford and Rushcliffe so any guests or hosts who wish to join us for the sessions which include English lessons please do come along to the Hall on Wednesdays 10.30am-12.30pm. Email pam.kirby@ntlworld.com for more information.”
Keyworth group co-ordinator Miyoko Henderson was also exceptionally thankful to the group for their time and effort making and donating the items.
She said: “It was wonderful to meet the lovely ladies of the Hickling WI group. Their hand made cushions and gifts were amazing, our students and students’ children loved them.
“This kind gesture has made our students feel more welcomed and accepted to be part of our community. They all expressed their gratitude and some wrote to us after the party how grateful they were and left full of beaming smiles. So, thanks a million to the Hickling WI group. It really meant a lot to them and to us.”
Carol added: “It has been a humbling experience as we can only imagine what some of the children have seen and experienced.
“It has given the members of the group an opportunity to work together and so much has been learned about Ukrainian culture and way of life and friendships have also been forged.”
Reflections on Ukrainian guests arriving in Rushcliffe in 2022 also saw a moment of reflection penned by guest Ohla Bielohlazova at the start of Rushcliffe Borough Council’s December Full Council meeting.
Herself and husband Denis were also the guests of the Mayor at November’s Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards and recently raised the flag on day celebrating the anniversary of Ukrainian independence last year.
(Rushcliffe’s online news bulletin January 2023)
