German initiatives provide respite for children from Ukraine and Belarus

Various humanitarian initiatives in Germany are providing respite for children affected by conflict and environmental disasters.

In Dortmund, 15 children and adolescents from the Ukrainian partner city of Zhytomyr are spending a week in the city to escape the daily stresses of war. The group, aged ten to 15, includes children whose fathers are missing or have died in the conflict. The visit, organized by Dortmund's International Relations team alongside partners like Borussia Dortmund, aims to provide a week free from air raid sirens and missile threats.

Separately, ten children from Belarus, hailing from regions still impacted by the Chernobyl reactor catastrophe, are participating in a recovery stay in Germany. Accompanied by the 'Children of Chernobyl' working group from the Bad Eilsen parish and supported by the ICH children's charity, the group recently visited Heide Park Resort in Soltau to experience a recreational outing away from their home environment.