A volunteer organization throws a Christmas ball for Ukrainian children
Ukrainian families living in Iceland had a Christmas party on Saturday. The party was the culmination of a year of events and relief efforts led by the Flottafólk volunteer organization and included a party and a visit from Santa Claus. Iceland Review talked to one of the organizers of the event, Markús Má Efraim, about the festival event.
Also known as Ukrainian refugee center in IcelandFlottafólk (which is called in Icelandic, Great People, is a play on the word). refugees, which means refugee), “was founded by similar volunteers at the beginning of the war to help Ukrainian refugees coming to Iceland,” says Markús. Saturday’s Christmas ball was the association’s biggest event of the year and was made possible thanks to volunteers, “both local and Ukrainian, and the goodwill of the township,” individuals and businesses who donated gifts for the children.
The ball had 400 guests, mostly Ukrainian children and their families, with a delicious festive feast that included everything from traditional Icelandic Christmas dishes such as smoked lamb on pizza, Markús laughs, “for those who don’t have the taste buds for smoked lamb.
After eating their fill, the children got to dance around a giant Christmas tree with several visits from Santa, who then handed out presents. Members of the Ukrainian community also put on a dance performance.
Home away from home
“Our hearts are full of pure gratitude to those who have already taken care of us for months! wrote participant and teacher Tanya Korolenko in the Facebook group “Iceland for Ukraine” (“Iceland for Ukraine”). “Christmas spirit is everywhere now. It’s beautiful…And all Ukrainians here in Reykjavík thank you very much for letting us find it, enjoy it ourselves! It means a lot!”
“Thanks to Flottafolk and its enthusiastic volunteers, Ukrainians get HOME to meet every Tuesday, they have plenty of help with practical things like clothes and hygiene,” continued Tanya. “But what touches me the most is when people think about other people’s feelings. Like you did today.”
In fact, Flottafólk has provided help to the Ukrainian refugee community in Iceland since the beginning of the war, explains Markús. “Help has been in the form of food, clothing, jobs, events and field trips for kids, educational programs, psychological support, child care and basically anything needed.” This winter, our biggest focus has been on the distribution of clothes and necessities,” he continues and points out that these distributions take place twice a week in Neskirkja and the community center in the Grand district in the west of Reykjavík.
“At the open houses we often get visits from local teachers and speakers or do something special like a concert and traditional gingerbread making and decorating.
Plans to expand in the new year
As the volunteers are refreshed by their happy celebrations on Saturday, Flottafólk has even bigger plans for the new year, says Markús. “We want to expand the educational programs, including various art workshops, but need more space as the community center we have access to has its own extensive program.”
“One of the things we have planned for the new year is a writing workshop for kids,” says Markús, who he and Tanya Korolenko will teach together. “This would hopefully culminate in a bilingual book written by the children and illustrated by Ukrainian artists.”
It seems clear that Flottafólk and its ongoing collaborative projects have fostered a strong sense of kinship between local volunteers and members of the newly arrived Ukrainian community, something Markús Már is quick to assert. “I had no connection with Ukraine before the war, but as a volunteer and now, project manager of the community center and educational programs, I feel a strong affinity with the Ukrainian people.” The refugee community has shown great appreciation to all of us volunteers and given back in so many ways.”
Photos by Alesia Kovalova (Алеся Ковальова)