The final event of the season for the children’s project “DJCY – STL Kids – JFuture,” implemented by the Dnipro Jewish Community with the support of STL and JFuture (a project of the JRNU foundation), took place in Dnipro. The final gathering combined a volunteer initiative, active recreation, a summary of the year’s achievements, and a ceremonial transition of the older participants to the community’s teen program.
Throughout the year, the children learned about the significance of mitzvos, discussed the importance of helping others, and learned to put Jewish values into practice in everyday life. It was therefore fitting that the main theme of the gathering was good deeds and care for the world around them. The end of the season was marked not only with a festive program but also with a genuine act of kindness.
As part of an initiative of the JFuture foundation, the project participants, together with their parents, took part in a volunteer campaign to help an animal shelter. Everyone could bring pet food or make a donation for its purchase. The collected aid was delivered to the animal shelter, and the project’s madrichot participated in purchasing everything needed.
Another part of the volunteer program was making bird feeders. During the Sunday gathering, the children made the feeders with their own hands and then hung them on trees to help the birds find food.
After such an impressive campaign of good deeds, a special end-of-season gift awaited the participants – a visit to an ice skating rink. For many boys and girls, this was one of their most vivid experiences. The more experienced participants helped those who were just learning to skate, while a coach supported the children and taught them the basics, ensuring the time on the ice was fun, safe, and filled with a spirit of true friendship.
The program concluded with a festive season closing ceremony. Together with the madrichot, the children recalled the most interesting events of the past year – the lessons, trips, holidays, and birthdays they had celebrated together. Games and interactive tasks were prepared for the participants, allowing them to once again remember everything they had learned and experienced throughout this school year.
A particularly heartwarming moment was a contest for the madrichot, who had to demonstrate how well they knew their charges. Using fragments of photographs – eyes, smiles, strands of hair, and other details – the mentors had to identify their respective children, thus confirming the special bond that had formed between the children and the madrichot over the course of their shared work.
A separate part of the ceremony was a mini-graduation for the participants who had completed sixth grade. The head of the teen project, Beila Letichevska, warmly congratulated the children, presented them with commemorative ribbons, and officially led them to their first meeting as part of the community’s teen program. Those who would return to the “Kids” program next year were treated to a special festive cake by the madrichot.
“Throughout the year, we spoke with the children about how important it is to do good deeds and help the world around us. So we wanted to end the season not only with a joyful celebration but also with a real volunteer campaign, so that the children could feel that every good deed matters,” noted project director Adina Seldina. “It was very gratifying to see with what enthusiasm the children participated in all parts of the program, helped the animals, cared for the birds, supported one another at the ice rink, and together recalled all the events of this wonderful year. I am certain that the summer holidays will pass quickly, and very soon we will meet again in the new season. New participants will join us, and our project will continue to thrive as an important part of the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
