Sixteen Ukrainian children, aged 2 to 16, whose parents died in the war, will spend 10 days on vacation in Portugal, an initiative organized by associations of the Ukrainian community in Portugal.
The project, titled ‘Children of Heroes – warmed by the sun and love’, is promoted by the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal, the Association of Ukrainian Women in Portugal, and the Parish Council of Benfica. It is supported logistically and financially by the software company Arquiconsult.
The children, accompanied by their mothers, widows of Ukrainian soldiers, and a volunteer doctor, have organized visits to beaches, the Lisbon Oceanarium, the Pavilion of Knowledge, as well as to Badoca Safari Park, Fátima, and Mira D’Aire caves.
According to a statement from the supporting company, the initiative aims to “provide these families a break from the war environment” and includes “leisure moments” in Lisbon.
The company adds, “although this is the first edition, the project intends to be repeated annually with different families.”
The war in Ukraine began in February 2022 when Russia invaded the country.
The Sumy region, in the northeast bordering Russia, with its capital about 500 kilometers from Kyiv, was targeted by Russian troop advances in June and remains under threat.
The Russian military offensive in Ukrainian territory has plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
