На крыльях детства

On Saturday, May 23, gala concert of the Third National charity festival of creativity of children with special development “Wings of childhood” was held in the open area of Gorky Park.

The activity was held within the framework of Sustainable Development Week. It was organized by non-governmental organization “Belarusian association of assistance to children and young people with disabilities” (NGO “BelAPDIiMI”), Event Studio “BonBon”, Rotary International, Belarus Eventor’s Club and the International Charity Foundation “Star lyre”.

В субботу, 23 мая, на открытой площадке столичного парка им. Горького состоялся гала-концерт Третьего Республиканского благотворительного фестиваля творчества детей с особенностями развития «Крылы дзяцiнства».

It is the third time when the festival has been held and it was dedicated to the International Day for Protection of Children.”Wings of childhood” gathered more than a thousand people from 30 regions of the country this year. Among them were families who are members of NGO “BelAPDIiMI” and creative groups from territorial centers for social services and boarding houses for children with disabilities.

An exhibition of works of arts and crafts was placed at the entrance to the park as well as an exhibition-sale of products and souvenirs of Unitary Enterprise “ArtIdea” where people with disabilities are employed.

Each visitor of the festival could get as a gift the last issue of brochure “Ordinary People” published by NGO “BelAPDIiMI”. The brochure introduces readers to the world of special people – people with intellectual disabilities, people who are ordinary as we are.

The holiday succeeded for hundred percent! Weather also favored the speakers and the audience, if on the eve of the festival it was raining the whole day, on the festival day the sun was shining brightly, maintaining a good mood and a feeling of celebration. Young artists demonstrated stage talents – sang and danced. Children that proved themselves at competitions and festivals as well as debutants took part at the concert. Eleven year old Ilia Shpak from Brest opened the concert with song “Story of one love”. Ilya is learning playing the cello and studies vocal, takes part in city and national competitions. But for Yulia Berezina from Luninets, performance at the festival was a debut, but despite the excitement the girl won audience hearts with tender and touching song “Mama”. Waltz from the film “My Sweet and Tender Beast” was performed by artists in wheelchairs from Ivenets boarding house and a group “Kaleidoscope” from Zhlobin showed a funny dance composition “Frenchwoman”. Other dance groups also took part in the festival, and many artists were in costumes made by their own hands. Creative children can not only sing and dance wonderfully, but many of them fond of embroidery, beading, do unusual needlework and create real masterpieces!

Musicians from a group of noise instruments “Mood” came from Molodechno made an incendiary “noise” on stage. The initiator of creation the group was Maria Faley, grandmother of soloist of the ensemble of Sergey Lemeshko. And it has already been two years when children have given actively performances in Molodechno as well in Minsk. Amazing girl Anya Borysiuk, a pupil of Minsk musical school №19, performed on guitar “Spanish folk dance”.  Anya plays by feel as since early childhood she has seen nothing but if you had heard her play, you without doubt understood idea of the performer and her perception of the world plan performer and her attitude, and what she says through music and game. It is impossible not to note vocal performance of Roma Yushkevich, very talented boy from Minsk: difficult “New York” of Frank Sinatra, a beautiful and melodic “Shape of My Heart” of Sting he performed perfectly!

But not only children took the stage at this festival day, well-known and popular artists of Belarusian music came to support the participants of the concert. Group “MILKI” sang its hit from the selection round of the contest “Eurovision”, a duet “NAVI” pleased the audience with their most famous songs, “Miss Bride” sang its songs with dance support of children ran out to the scene. It is not the first time when Iskui Abalyan has spoken at the charity festival and as always songs in her performance were magic and beautiful.

It was sunny, fun and crowded in Gorky Park all Saturday day. And so many wheelchairs on park paths probably have never been before. Children and young people with disabilities who came to Minsk to the festival “Wings of childhood” could not only take part in the wonderful concert or enjoy it as spectators but also rode the rides in city parks, walked through the Botanical Garden, visited the zoo. The festival has become a real holiday for children!

The organization of such an activity requires a lot of strength, it is very pleasant that altruists work in our city who in spite of everything embody in life such important projects. Special thanks to Event Studio BonBon, – artistic director Elena Bondarenko – for organization of the festival, creation of such wonderful activities for children! We also express our great gratitude to Minsk City Hall and city parks for the opportunity to ride the rides and pleasure boats for free, the Botanical Garden and Zoo, and the Regional Executive Committee and local administrations for their assistance in the delivery of festival participants from regions to the capital, traffic police Minsk city for the organization of parking for transport and ambulance station for duty in the park during carrying out the activity. Special thanks to volunteers and photographers for assistance of participants and guests as well as for carrying out a photo and video shooting. Personal “Thanks!”  to leader Tamara Lisitskaya, without whom the concert would be incomplete and less bright and alive. And the biggest thanks to talented children and their wonderful parents for dreaming, aspiring, trying and reaching the goal!

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