Vitebsk regional New Year's tree gathered a thousand children from all over the region
The regional New Year tree is the main event of the "Our Children" charity event in the Vitebsk region. On December 27, the celebration brought together a thousand boys and girls from all districts and cities of the Dvina region at the "Vitebsk" Concert Hall.
The best students, winners of olympiads, creative contests and sports competitions, cadets, boarding school students, and children from large families were welcomed in the regional center the previous evening. The schoolchildren visited Victory Square, where the main New Year tree of the Vitebsk region sparkled for them as if for the first time, and on the stage, their peers congratulated them and amazed them with their dancing and singing talents.
The next day, another New Year tree met the children with a colorful sparkle of lights and festive decorations – at the "Vitebsk" Concert Hall. On several floors, an exhibition of creativity by young residents of the regional center, "Kolyadnaya Zorka" (Christmas Star), was displayed. Here, in the "Santa Claus Creative Workshop," craftswomen from various extracurricular institutions helped everyone create New Year's souvenirs, decorations, and postcards with their own hands.
The chairman of the regional executive committee, Alexander Kosinets, also appreciated the skills of our young countrymen, praising the authors whose works were presented at the exhibition.
In the concert hall, Alexander Nikolaevich warmly welcomed the young guests of the holiday, who had already taken their seats in anticipation of New Year's miracles. He noted that talented and gifted children contribute to enhancing the region's image.
– 2013 is coming to an end. You have worked very hard at your desks and easels, and presented a wonderful exhibition of your creativity, – said Alexander Kosinets. – You not only tried to study but also actively participated and won various competitions and olympiads. All this is a tremendous effort. Yours, and that of your teachers, parents, guardians, and educators. I also express my immense gratitude to them.
The joint efforts made in the education and upbringing of the younger generation are yielding results, the head of the region emphasized. This year, 86 children from the Vitebsk region received awards from the special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for the social support of gifted students, and 81 children became winners in republican olympiads.
The state is doing everything possible, said Alexander Kosinets, for the successful education, harmonious development, and strengthening of children's health. State programs "Children of Belarus" and "Young Talents of Belarus" are being implemented, new kindergartens and schools are being built, and the material and technical base of educational institutions is being modernized and improved. And in the coming year, among the priorities of the socio-economic development of the Vitebsk region will be the support of childhood and youth. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee congratulated everyone on the New Year and wished them health, happiness, well-being, and the fulfillment of their plans. In response, he also received congratulations and handmade gifts from the children. Alexander Nikolaevich was particularly impressed by a souvenir in the form of a sculptural composition with a score of 2:2 in a hockey match between Belarus and Canada. "This gift should be presented to the President of Belarus!" proposed the head of the region.
Many of the young spectators fully felt the care of the state. For example, fifth-grader Ksenia Shevlyakova from Luzhesno, Vitebsk region, lives in a foster family and says that her every day is interesting and full of events. Even the regional New Year tree is not such a big adventure for her: every year the girl visits the Ded Moroz residence in Pridvinye at the Spartakovets health resort. She also participates in concerts herself. On this day, she was also supposed to perform on stage.
The children tried not to miss a minute of the performance, taking photos to gather more impressions and share them with family and friends. Polina Kovshel from Ushachi literally caught every word and every moment. As the chairman of the school press center, the 14-year-old girl masterfully gathered material for the newspaper. She is also a winner of district and regional competitions for a healthy lifestyle among leaders and activists, and a participant in several clubs and sections.
The holiday was a great success, all the children received gifts and unforgettable impressions. We want to wish them to keep their faith in miracles along with these impressions.
Ekaterina Knyazeva, "Vitebskie vesti"