The Ukraine-India Students’ Writing Contest 2024, themed “With Love to Ukraine,” highlighted the creative expressions of young minds from across India, emphasizing peace, harmony, and friendship between the two nations. Organized jointly by the East European Development Institute (EEDI) and PT Global Edu, the contest aimed at fostering cultural connections and understanding under the EEDI project “Ukraine and South Asia: Open Dialogues.”

The contest was divided into two categories, junior and senior students. The junior participants, from grades VI to VIII, wrote essays in the nomination categories “Ukraine in my Dream” and “To my Ukrainian Friend,” whereas the senior students from grades IX to XII wrote entries in the categories “The Beauty of Ukrainian Culture” and “For a Strong Ukraine-India Friendship.” The response was overwhelming, as more than 950 entries were received from over 200 schools across the country.

A rigorous three-tier evaluation process was conducted in Ukraine by the EEDI to shortlist and select the top 15 winners across the various categories. The Embassy of Ukraine in India played a pivotal role in facilitating the liaison and supporting the event, which culminated in a felicitation ceremony. The winners received accolades from Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to India, with CN Patel, CEO of PT Global Edu, and veteran Ukrainian footballer Pavlo Kharatin, also fondly known as “Hightower”

During the event, Ambassador Polishchuk expressed his admiration for the thoughtful and heartfelt essays submitted by the students. He highlighted the importance of building strong people-to-people connections from an early age, emphasizing how such initiatives help forge lasting ties between nations. While celebrating the students’ remarkable achievements, he also shed light on the grim realities faced by Ukrainian children due to the ongoing Russian aggression.

“Many Ukrainian children have been robbed of safety and a sense of normalcy. Numerous families have been torn apart, and thousands of children have lost their parents and relatives due to relentless bombings. More than 20,000 children have been forcibly transferred to Russia, where their identities are at risk of being erased,” the Ambassador remarked with deep concern. He further added that there are on-going efforts to re-unite the displaced Ukrainian children with their families through such programs as “Bring Kids Back UA.

The envoy also addressed the damaging influence of the war on Ukraine’s education system. Many schools have been damaged or destroyed, meaning consistent education is in a faraway future for many children in Ukraine. He still commended the strength and resilience of Ukraine’s youth and challenged global solidarity with them in the future.

The event that unfolded has been that of hope, creativity, and compassion. The essays written by Indian students proclaim not only empathy and understanding of the plight of the children of Ukraine but also the desire for bridges of friendship and cooperation in the coming days between the two nations. Such visionary ideas and a message with a heart reflect how the young voices can create a transformation into peace and unity.

As the ceremony culminated, organizers addressed a message of appreciation for all participants, schools, and teachers who welcome this enthusiasm. The success of the Ukraine-India Students’ Writing Contest 2024 marked a significant step in strengthening cultural ties and mutual respect between the two nations and also reminded everyone of the need to protect children’s rights and dreams that have been at risk due to the ongoing conflict.