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100 Ukrainians visiting Rovaniemi

Text: Noora Hietanen, pics: Marjo Romakkaniemi, Eva Kivinen and FinAid ry.

88 children and pre-teens and 12 adult Ukrainians arrived as our Christmas guests. 

- The adults are the teachers of the children and young people, the principal of the Nikopol school was also with them. Together with many other partners, we welcomed them to Christmas in Rovaniemi and introduced various attractions, chaplain Topi Litendahl commented.

The Ukrainians stayed at Syväsenvaara school. The Rovaniemi parish’s Aapakirkko near there, offered mee-ting spaces and places for breakfast and evening snacks. At Norvajärvi center Ukrainiains fried sausages and met reindeers. The highlights, according to the children, were the sauna, snow, and ice fishing. Everyone participated in the Rovaniemi Church Christmas mass and Ukrainian children joined the Christmas tableau.


Children wished and prayed for Christmas: 

- ”To be outdoors with others, possibility to go to school again, fathers homecoming from frontline and war, and that there would be peace.”

Rovaniemi parish started charity collection of supplies for Ukraine - and it was indeed a success story. There were needs for canned fish, aggregates and rechargeable flashlights. 

- Approximately 800-900 pieces of canned fish, numerous aggregates, and suitcases full of different types of rechargeable lamps were collected and delivered to Ukraine, Marjo  Romakkaniemi evaluated.

”It was an incredible fairytale with wonderful people that will remain in our hearts forever! Huge thanks to all the organizers! We love you!”

You can also listen to the English summary at this link.

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