New Year charity campaign Our Children

Every kid in Belarus matters, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he attended the New Year Eve's children's charity event held as part of the country's charity campaign Our Children in the Palace of the Republic on 28 December.

“I have reiterated this many times and I will repeat it once again – every child in Belarus matters. All of them are dear to us. Belarus has been and will stay open to all those who have lost home and peace in their countries,” the Belarusian leader said. “We have always provided assistance to such children and we will continue to do so. I mean children, from whom the war is trying to steal their childhood.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked educators, tutors, teachers and parents. “My sincere gratitude goes especially to teachers and educators. Thank you very much for our Belarusian children. You really have a gift. I think there is no other people from other continents and countries who have such a gift as Belarusian women, our real men who think about our children from morning till evening, bring them up, educate them,” the head of state said.

The President also gave special thanks to those who organize events of the country's nationwide charity campaign Our Children. “The campaign is a long-standing tradition. It is a great holiday, first of all, for our children. Thank you all who support this tradition, give attention and care to the children of Belarus. Moreover, we are doing our best to make children fleeing from the war feel at home here. There are many of them,” the head of state said. “We see what is going on in different corners of our planet. We are doing everything possible for the children, who today do not have an opportunity to gather in a beautiful hall and talk to their President, to feel welcome here. There should not be children running from war. We should help these children, bring them here, and make their childhood happier.”

“Today we can see here, in the Palace of the Republic, our children – from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, Latvia and many others. On behalf of us, adults, and on behalf of all the children of our country, I want to welcome you all in this hall, to congratulate you on the coming New Year, to congratulate you on this great holiday. Be always healthy and happy, smile more, believe in the power of good. We will always be by your side,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

More than 2,300 children have been invited to the New Year Eve's charity event at the Palace of the Republic. They included excellent students and winners of various Olympiads and creative contests, students who have done a lot of social work, orphans, children from large families, disabled children, children from the families of military and law enforcement officers, whose fathers died in the line of duty, as well as children from Donbass, children from Latvia and Primorye Territory, who are on recuperation holidays in Belarus. Children who were recently evacuated to Belarus from Palestine were also invited to attend the event.