Italian vacation for children from Ukraine: sea, songs, football, Pompeii and Eternal Rome...

Maksym is thirteen and loves soccer, Ukrainian literature classes, and adventures. And he dreams of a time when his house in the village of Moshchun near Kyiv, destroyed by an enemy missile, will be rebuilt and he will live not in a modular town like now, but in his own home, as he used to... «I want everyone to feel joy every day. And that when we return to Ukraine, the war will be over and peace will come», says nine-year-old Svitlana from Kyiv.

Ukrainian children have different hobbies, different personalities and preferences - and similar dreams. Over the past year and a half, they have faced many childish challenges. Therefore, moments of sincere joy and positive emotions are the best gift adults can give them.

Two weeks of vacation in Italy, in the town of Arienzo in the Campania region, passed like a moment for a group of children from Kyiv and the village of Moshchun. There was a lot of sunshine, cheerful laughter, and friendly jokes. There was the sea and water park slides, soccer matches and integration dances, excursions to a bee farm and an ice cream factory, pizza and gelato, exploring the ancient Roman city of Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, walking through the colorful streets of Naples and Rome.

At the joint Italian-Ukrainian farewell party in Acera, which was attended by many distinguished guests, Ukrainian children presented their creative gift to their Italian friends: a song and dance. As a memento and as a thank you for the hospitality.

The impressions we bring back from a trip are a priceless treasure that will stay with us forever. We are grateful to Caritas Italy for organizing a vacation for children from Ukraine, for the opportunity for new experiences and unforgettable acquaintances.

In total, Caritas Italy hosted more than 200 children from Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv and Odesa this summer.