The annual Let's Gro festival took place in the weekend of 8-10 November. The Social Brigade was present with several activities (see description below).
Friday November 8th
On November 8th Vitaly Liutskanov from the city of Berdyansk, South Ukraine, performed. In Ukraine he was involved in organizing holidays, was an author and worked as a singing teacher at a college. Vitaly is very grateful to the Netherlands for the warm welcome and the opportunity to develop in an atmosphere of understanding, support and kindness.
Saturday November 9th
On Saturday 9 November, De Sociale Brigade provided two parts of the 'Let's Gro' program: 'Unheard stories' of three women who fled Ukraine. Mariia Hrevchenko, Tatyana Kolysnik and Natalya Ryabenka shared their experiences with the war, the flight and life in the Netherlands from different perspectives. Before and after, there was the opportunity to talk to them at the stand of De Sociale Brigade about Ukraine and the stay of the many displaced persons in Groningen.
Elina Mykheieva also sang opera. Mykheieva came from Ukraine more than 2 years ago. She devoted her whole life to music, graduated from the Odessa Conservatory as an opera singer and worked for more than 10 years in the Odessa Opera House. She toured with concerts in many European countries. Currently she is actively involved in the cultural life of Groningen.
Sunday November 10th
Folk dancing (performance and workshop) by mother and daughter Natali and Arina Marchuk. Both fled to the Netherlands at the beginning of the invasion. For this Natali had to leave her dance school in Kyiv behind. Nowadays she teaches at a shelter in Haren, and she performs regularly - with the children who are taking lessons.
Olesya Lyashova is an artist specialized in Petrykivka painting. She provided a workshop. Together with a few other artists she also provided Petrykivka style face painting for children between 11:00 and 17:00. At the same time there was the opportunity to talk to them and other volunteers of De Sociale Brigade about the work we do and life and work in Groningen.
