By Laryssa
For more than 80 years, the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada (CYM) has played a vital role in nurturing generations of young Ukrainian Canadians through leadership, cultural preservation, and community engagement.
Founded in Canada in 1949, CYM became a home for Ukrainian youth whose families had arrived following the Second World War. Inspired by the ideals of the Ukrainian Youth Association established in Ukraine in 1925, CYM Canada was created to help young people maintain their Ukrainian identity and faith while becoming active and responsible citizens of Canada and while maintaining a strong relationship to Ukraine.
From its earliest days, CYM has been guided by the principles of God and Ukraine, encouraging members to develop strong moral character, leadership skills, and a lifelong commitment to serving both their communities and the Ukrainian nation. Today, CYM chapters across Canada offer programs for children, youth and young adults that combine education, recreation, and personal development.
Leadership development remains at the heart of the organization. This year, at Camp Weselka situated in Acton, Ontario, over 50 kids participated in a leadership camp called vyshkil where they honed and developed their skills to become active participants and volunteers of the CYM hromada.
We began our tabir on June 27th. Kids had the opportunity to learn about the history of Ukraine, the situation of present Ukraine, ecocide, the illegal deportation of Crimean Tatars, while working with children at camp and within their oseredky, to develop important attributes of a good leader, and much more.
On the evening of July 5th, our сумівці took time to express their gratitude and support for the brave Defenders of Ukraine by writing heartfelt postcards to soldiers serving on the front lines.
Each message carries a word of encouragement, hope, appreciation and reminds those defending Ukraine that they are not forgotten and that the Ukrainian diaspora stands with them.
This meaningful initiative gave our youth the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices being made every day and to transform their gratitude into a personal act of solidarity. For many of our campers, the war is not a distant event. Some have mothers, fathers, siblings, relatives and close family friends currently serving on the front, while others have ones who continue to live under the constant threat of war in Ukraine.
Though separated by thousands of kilometers, these postcards serve as a powerful reminder that the hearts of our сумівці remain united with Ukraine.
The war may be taking place an ocean away but for many in our community, it is never far from their hearts. Through simple words of kindness and unwavering support, they continue the tradition of service, compassion, and national consciousness that defines CYM.
Please tell others about this project. Ask family and friends to write cards. Involve your children and grandchildren. Defenders especially appreciate postcards with drawings from children.
Need cards? Write to us at postcardstothefront.canada@gmail.com. FREE!
Not sure how to get started? Check our “How to” page, and our Ukrainian phrases page. Want to organize a group of family, friends or others to write postcards? We have a page with suggestions about How to Run a Postcard-Writing Workshop.
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Every card written in Canada reaches a defender in Ukraine. Here is exactly how to write and mail yours.
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