Activity for Body, Peace for Soul: Mariupol Youth Visit Italy
Taking care of one’s health means caring for both the body and the mind. This simple yet important idea formed the foundation of the international exchange MATCH — a project empowering young people through sports, well-being, and active civic engagement. The participation of Ukrainians in the mobility program was made possible by the Agency for Local Democracy in Mariupol (Ukraine) with the support of Mariupol State University.
As part of the project, from September 8 to 16 in Italian Recoaro Terme, a town known for its mountain scenery and thermal springs, young participants from Georgia, Armenia, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Ukraine took part in activities aimed at physical and psychological well-being.
The team of the resilient nation was formed by students of Mariupol schools, Alina Rybak, a student of the professional program “Secondary Education. Ukrainian Language and Literature, World Literature” , and Vadym Yali, a specialist of the Center for International Education, who ensured organization and mentorship as the youth leader.
The project encouraged participants to reflect on how small, everyday decisions can significantly influence one’s life and helped them understand how every individual can contribute to the development of their community. Participants learned to understand others and respect diversity through games, discussions, cultural exchange, as well as through cooperation, leadership, and solidarity in master classes in fencing, tennis, salsa, and athletics training.
The journey took effort, yet returned even more value. It restored faith in personal strength, the belief that a person must defend his/her boundaries and opinions. No matter what, it is important to remain true to oneself and keep one’s own priorities, because no “beautiful picture” can replace that. After all, first and foremost, I must be that “beautiful picture” for myself,
— says MSU student Alina Rybak.
Any international mobility is about getting to know the host country, supported by group excursions. The young participants enjoyed not only the nature of Recoaro Terme but also the picturesque architecture of Venice.
For the Ukrainian team, the weeklong trip became something greater than the project’s initial goal. It contributed to emotional rehabilitation and restoring strength, as life in wartime inevitably leaves its imprints.
This was my first experience as a coordinator for teenagers. One way or another, everyone in our group has been deeply affected by the war: some survived the blockade of Mariupol, others experienced Russian ballistic strikes near their homes, even in Kyiv. Such programs are crucial for our teenagers, they allow them to exhale and reset. Working with them, you realize how grown-up they have become over the past three and a half years,
— says MSU specialist Vadym Yali.
