Zaporizhzhia is a city of strength and endurance. Just thirty kilometers from the front line, sirens sound here every day, yet life does not stop. People keep working, learning, helping one another, doing good, and inspiring others. One of the places where the warmth of human hearts overcomes the cold of war is the Reimer Center. It was here, in partnership with the “Future” clubs, that a special workshop for children recently took place — a day that united creativity, craftsmanship, and community.
About twenty children of different ages came to the center that day. Their faces showed curiosity and anticipation of something special. The organizers greeted the participants with warm smiles, offered tea and treats, and then explained that the boys and girls would be working in two different workshops: the girls would make candles, and the boys would craft wooden candle holders. By the end of the day, everyone would have their own handmade creation — a candle and a holder that could be combined into a single composition.
In the room where the girls gathered, there was a special atmosphere of coziness from the very beginning.
Meanwhile, in the carpentry workshop, another kind of work was in full swing. The smell of fresh wood and varnish filled the air; the sounds of saws and sanders echoed. Under the guidance of the instructor, the boys learned how to handle tools, mark details, sand the edges, and glue the bases. For some, it was their first time working with wood, but after an hour, real candle holders began to appear on the tables — sturdy, neat, and filled with the warmth of the hands that made them.
Indeed, such activities carry special meaning. In a world where so much around seems destroyed, it is vital to show children that they can create. Their hands, thoughts, and hearts are instruments for doing good. Working with one’s hands develops not only practical skills but also character — patience, focus, and responsibility.
When all the creations were finished, the children gathered in the main room. The girls placed their candles on the boys’ wooden holders. It looked beautiful — simple things made by children’s hands filled the space with warmth and light. They lit a few candles together, and for a moment, there was silence — each child looking at the flame as if seeing hope in it.
Serhii, one of the leaders, said:
“We live in a city that hears explosions every day, but that hasn’t destroyed our desire to create. On the contrary — the darker it gets around us, the more we want to bring light.”
Afterward, the children drank tea, shared their impressions, and took photos with their works. Some were already asking when the next workshop would be — and that’s perhaps the best sign of a successful day.
The Reimer Center continues to work despite the challenges of war. Here, children learn not only English or carpentry — they learn kindness, hope, and courage. Every boy who learned to use a plane today, and every girl who made a candle with her own hands, is a small light of hope for our city.
Because Zaporizhzhia is not just a city near the front line. It is a city where the candles of peace, faith, and love keep burning. And as long as places like the Reimer Center exist, this light will never go out.
