Unity Day in Perevalsk Colony

22 January 1919 is the day of the adoption of the Act of Unity of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) and the West Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR). The Act of Unity was based on the centuries-old dream of the Ukrainian people for an independent, united, national state. It became a powerful manifestation of the will of Ukrainians for ethnic and territorial consolidation, a testament to their self-identification and the formation of a political nation. This date was destined to enter the history of Ukraine forever as a great national holiday — the Day of Unity.
On 22 January 2009, on the 90th anniversary of the proclamation of the Act of Unity of the UNR and ZUNR, specialists of the Leninsky District Centre for Social Services for Family, Children and Youth in the city of Luhansk, as well as City Council Deputy Natalya Maksimets, arrived to congratulate the pupils of the Perevalsk Colony on the Unity Day of Ukraine. The Centre's specialists, with the aim of patriotic education, told the background history of this holiday and demonstrated a film about Unity from the cycle ‘Unknown Ukraine’, which was provided by the Luhansk Regional Centre for Educational and Methodological Work on Cultural Initiatives and Film Art. Many of the boys heard for the first time about such a holiday as the Unity Day of Ukraine, and about the difficulties of the Ukrainian people that stood in the way of the reunification of the two branches of the Ukrainian people separated by historical fate. The pupils of the colony received the information with great interest and added to their knowledge of the history of Ukraine.
In continuation of the festive event, a 2nd-year student of the Luhansk State Institute of Culture and Arts, Dmitry Kravchenko, and a laureate of international pop artist competitions, lecturer at the Institute of Culture and Arts of the Luhansk National University named after Taras Shevchenko, Sergey Chuykov, presented their talent to the boys. The songs performed during the concert caused great delight and ovations from the pupils of the colony, made them reflect on life, and brought a small celebration into their hearts.
The Leninsky RCSSFCY thanks the Luhansk Regional Children's Public Organisation ‘Lugari’ (Director Alyona Sergeyevna Savchenko) for the transport provided for the trip.
Olga Makeeva, 1st category specialist
of the Leninsky District Centre in the city of Luhansk
for social services for family, children and youth