On Tu Bi Shvat 5785 the premiere of the new integration project Dnipro Volunteer Community, working on the basis of “Hillel” JCCC and leading socialization programs of “Hesed Menachem” – “Freilachs Club” and “Caring Connection” took place.
The project was called “Mystetstvo yednannya, scha nadihaye” and combined both online and offline formats – the participants of the program “Pragnennya do samostiynogo zhizni”, volunteers and activists were invited to the club Heseda, and in the videoconference mode the whole program was available to the participants of the program “Caring Connection”.
Before the beginning of the event, Alena Kolpina, director of the Hillel YSCC, made a welcoming speech and, after congratulating everyone on Tu Bi Shvat, expressed hope that such events promote unity and strengthen ties in the community.
This time everyone was united by a creative master class prepared by DVC volunteers, during which each participant could create his or her own tree. “Each tree created by the hands of Hesed Menachem clients became a reflection of their inner world,” Alena Kolpina told our website, “some trees were bright and colorful, symbolizing joy and optimism, while others were more restrained and calm, allowing them to express certain emotions and experiences. This process of creative self-expression became not only a way to create a unique work of art, but also an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and feelings.”
The online portion of the event was led by DVC coordinator Alina Gorokhova and Artem Pirog, who introduced the Caring Connection participants to the traditions of the Tu Bi Shvat holiday, the seven fruits of Israel – symbols of wealth and abundance that are considered important and connected to the culture of Israel.
“It is not surprising that this format of the celebration gathered a lot of feedback,” emphasizes Alyona Kolpina, “participants noted that such events helped them feel part of the community, find new hobbies and simply enjoy life. At the end of the day, all participants received their unique trees, which became not just works of art, but also symbols of a new beginning and connection with nature”.
