The traditional charity fair dedicated to the Day of Defenders was held at Uzhhorod National University. The aim was to raise funds for the needs of the military. The fair was organised by the Faculty of Philology, with representatives of the student self-government actively participating.

The fair was opened by the dean of the Faculty of Philology. Yuriy Bidzilia, together with the deputy dean for educational work, Marta Demchik. The dean thanked all the initiators of this good cause for their desire to support the military:

“Dear colleagues, students! I am very glad that we have such a good tradition of holding a fair, and not just a fair, but a charitable contribution to our Armed Forces. Today we have a triple celebration – Defenders’ Day, Cossack Day and the Feast of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. Let us not forget that we are descendants of the Cossacks, let us help the Armed Forces, and may Ukraine be under the protection of the Holy Virgin! Glory to Ukraine!”

Thanks to students from various specialities who prepared a variety of delicacies, shopping bags, paintings, and even perfumes, all the tables were overflowing, and visitors could even order a song for a donation, win a win-win lottery, and learn their fate from Tarot cards.

All those interested could not only purchase something, but also chat with the organisers and learn more about the purpose of the fundraiser fair.

Yevheniia Ignat, a first-year student of the Secondary Education (Ukrainian Language and Literature) programme, talked about preparing for the fair and her first experience of participating in it:

“Preparing for the fair didn’t take me long, about two hours. I baked Belgian waffles with chocolate spread. Overall, there were no difficulties, everything was very well organised. It’s an incredible feeling when you can take part in such an event, thanks to your skills and desire to help those who defend us. I also supervised my colleagues – pizza, pancakes and pumpkin muffins. Everything was incredibly delicious, you could tell right away that it was prepared with love!

Another participant, second-year journalism student Alina Glukhanich, took part in the fair for the second time and was also satisfied:

“It didn’t take me long to prepare. We bought the ingredients the day before the fair and used them to make pancakes. We discussed in advance with our classmates what we would prepare and sell. I wouldn’t say there were any difficulties. But I didn’t like the passivity of some students. I bought a cupcake and a Tarot reading at the fair. The atmosphere at the fair was warm and friendly: people talked, joked and actively supported the initiative. Many visitors came not only to make a donation, but also to chat with students, support their ideas and buy something special, created with their own hands. This created a sense of unity and shared responsibility for a good cause. I liked the whole range of products. I think that even more students could get involved in such events and offer more original products. My course was actively involved last year too. I remember that last year’s fair was a little bigger, but this one was great too! Thank you to all the participants who joined in. Together, we achieved a good result and helped our Armed Forces, thanks to whom we were able to hold this event!”

Students from other faculties also joined the fair. As it was held in the lobby of the main building of UzhNU. Daryna Pohorilyak, a first-year student majoring in Therapy and Rehabilitation, shared her impressions, support for such events, and their importance:

“I saw the fair poster on Instagram and decided to come right then and there. I liked the atmosphere of the event, the mood of the people who are united by something good. And, of course, the aroma of fresh pastries, which could be smelled everywhere! So I couldn’t resist and bought some delicious spiced cookies and a bright handmade shopping bag that I liked. A charity fair is a great way to have a good time, find unusual things and support students. When you buy something directly from the person who created it, you don’t just get the item, you become part of its history. It’s very inspiring! I’m already looking forward to the next one!

The traditional charity fair helped bring together students and teachers from different departments for a common goal – to help our defenders. During the event, 24,000 hryvnias were raised. Deputy Dean for Educational Work Marta Demchik, together with representatives of the student self-government. Handed over the funds to the public organisation ‘Pomagatori’ through one of the community’s volunteers, Viktoria Sulima.

The funds raised will go towards supporting the military and meeting their urgent needs. Such initiatives prove once again that even small contributions can add up to significant help for those who defend Ukraine. The organisers say they plan to continue holding similar charity events to support our defenders.